Armed robber suspect arrested after 11 hour standoff
Standoff between SWAT team members and Edward Walcott went long into the night till Walcott was force to leave his building at 12:22 a.m. Photo credit: George Johnston
A suspect for armed robbery has been arrested early this morning after an 11 hour standoff with Chico Police.
According to a police press release, a male suspect robbed a Money Saver market on Park Avenue at gunpoint around 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 7. He fled to an apartment on Oakdale Street after his robbery, where he was surrounded by police.
“We had patrol officers responding, hoping to get him out and get the other residents out,” said David Britt, deputy chief of Chico Police.
Officers closed a two block radius around the apartment complex. Butte County Interagency Bomb Squad arrived on the scene around 9:30 p.m. as police were trying to communicate to Walcott with a public address system.
Witnesses believe that the male suspect’s motive was due to lack of rent money.
“Rents due and we have our rent money, but maybe he felt that we didn’t,” said Dana Patton, the suspect’s roommate.
Chico SWAT sent a bomb squad robot towards the apartment to further communicate with the suspect around 10:20 p.m.
After failing to comply with law enforcement, Chico SWAT tear gassed the apartment at midnight and Walcott was apprehended.
A replica firearm which was recovered at the scene is believed to have been used in the robbery. No injuries were reported.
Michael Catelli can be reached at [email protected] or @michaelcatelli on Twitter.
