CHICO – An armed Chico man wearing body armor was arrested on November 20, 2019 during an investigation by California State Parks rangers into a vehicle found in the Sacramento River.

Dr. Alfred Villasenor was arrested after State Parks rangers responded to a report of an unoccupied vehicle in the water near the Pine Creek boat launch on River Road.  Following leads as to the registered owner of the vehicle, rangers, with the assistance of Chico Police officers, conducted a welfare check at a home on Roycroft Lane in Chico.  Their intention was to locate the owner, check on his safety and perhaps find out how the vehicle ended up in the river.

As rangers and officers were at the home, they developed information and facts that necessitated a check on the interior of the residence to ensure family members were not injured.

Inside, the law enforcement officers came across the registered owner of the vehicle, Dr. Alfred Villasenor.  According to the Chico Police Department, Villasenor was armed, wearing body armor and placed himself in a position inside the residence consistent with that of an ambush posture. Villasenor surrendered and officers took him into custody without incident.

A search of his residence resulted in the discovery of a semi-automatic rifle, an assault weapon, two manufactured handguns, body armor, and ammunition.

Villasenor is prohibited from possessing firearms pursuant to a restraining order. According to Chico police, this is the second time that he has violated this order and obtained firearms; he had an outstanding warrant for the first case. He was booked into Butte County Jail on charges of violating a restraining order, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of an assault weapon and other charges.

“There’s no question in my mind that the investigation led by California State Park rangers into the owner of the vehicle, and how that vehicle ended up in the river, led to the arrest of a potentially dangerous individual with possible evil intentions,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Thank you to all who responded to this call and quickly followed up on the leads in this case.”