Butte County Sheriff’s deputies made two more arrests in connection with a Forbestown home invasion that resulted in a high-speed chase and house fire.
Christopher South was arrested Thursday afternoon when he crashed a truck that was reported stolen in the home invasion robbery at a Forbestown home around 4:20 p.m. Thursday.
South was reported spotted driving the truck on Olive Highway before leading deputies on a short chase that reached speeds of 70 MPH. That chase ended when the 24-year-old crashed into a power pole on Oro-Quincy Highway near Foothill Boulevard.
That accident sparked a fire at a small abandoned home.
While following up on the robbery at the home on Lone Oak Drive, investigators say they learned two other men were involved in the robbery.
Detectives say the suspects forced their way into the home and pepper sprayed the man inside before demanding he give them his guns.
They then reportedly stole his truck as well.
After arresting South at the accident scene, detectives say they learned that the other vehicle involved was at a local casino.
Investigators say they then followed the vehicle to a home in the Kelly Ridge area where they arrested Derek Pierce.
The third suspect in the case, Marcus Jones was reportedly identified through surveillance at the casino and arrested at a Chico home.
Detectives say Jones used to live on Lone Oak Drive and that is likely how he knew of the guns in the home that the suspects were reportedly targeting.
