OROVILLE, CA (MPG) -  The Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced on January 29, 2020
the arrest of five individuals. The arrests are the culmination of an investigation that began in January 2020. On January 18, BCSO responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call in Gridley. Deputies determined Jeremy Justeson of Gridley, age 42, was involved in an ongoing dispute with a victim. On January 18, the victim and another individual were driving a vehicle on a public roadway in the Gridley area. Justeson used his truck to purposely ram the victim’s vehicle approximately two times. The force of the impact from Justeson’s truck pushed the victim’s vehicle through an intersection and off the road.

Deputies and Detectives conducted follow-up and obtained an arrest warrant for Justeson. On January 24, Detectives, Designated Area Deputies, and members of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Unit served the arrest warrant at Justeson’s residence, which is located in the 700 block of Cowee Avenue, Gridley. While serving the arrest warrant, Detectives contacted Shane Benson of Colusa, age 38, Laura Brockway of Gridley, age 49, and Melchor Salgado of Gridley, age 26. Detectives located illegal items in plain view inside
the Cowee Avenue residence. Detectives were not able to locate Justeson at his Cowee Avenue residence.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the Cowee Avenue residence. Later that morning Detectives located Justeson and a female, identified as April Petersen of Oroville, age 40, at a residence in the 1900 block of Veatch Street, Oroville. Justeson was eventually placed under arrest, and a search warrant was also obtained for the Veatch Street residence.

During a search of the Cowee Avenue address Detectives located numerous items to include ammunition, illegal assault weapons, over 80 pounds of marijuana and narcotics paraphernalia. During a search of the Veatch Street residence Detectives located methamphetamine, identification and other documents for at least 10 victims (used to commit identity theft), ammunition, and an illegal pyrotechnic device. Justeson was arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon, felony vandalism, possession of assault weapons, possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a residence where narcotics are used/sold and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Petersen was arrested for felony identity theft, committing a felony while released on OR/Bail, possession of an illegal pyrotechnic device, being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, possession of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Brockway was arrested for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. Benson was arrested for being in possession of narcotics paraphernalia. Salgado was arrested for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition.