If you are going to commit a crime and then make a run for it, you probably want to avoid picking the one house on the block where a cop happens to live. That is exactly the situation a 37-year-old Chico woman found herself in after allegedly being caught burglarizing a vehicle in the 1800 block of Humboldt Road.
According to the Chico Police Department, the homeowner spotted Lacey Roberts rummaging through a vehicle parked outside the residence and confronted her on the spot. Rather than stick around to explain herself, Roberts took off running, crossing a nearby creek and ducking into a residential area in hopes of losing whoever might be chasing her.
That plan fell apart fast. Somewhere in her escape route, Roberts climbed onto a parked truck and hopped a fence into a neighboring yard, landing her right in the path of an off-duty Chico Police officer who happened to be home. The homeowner walked her to the front of the property, where the officer stepped in to detain her.
Roberts reportedly tried to bolt one more time, leading to a brief struggle before the officer got her safely into custody. On-duty officers arrived shortly after to take over, and the off-duty officer walked away with only minor injuries, which is about as good an outcome as you can hope for when a foot chase turns physical.
A Streak of Bad Luck, Neighborhood Edition
Every town has that one street where everybody seems to know everybody, and it turns out this was one of them. Chico Police did not say whether Roberts had any idea who lived in that yard before she jumped the fence, but the timing could not have worked out worse for her.
It is the kind of coincidence that sounds like it belongs in a sitcom, except this one ended with real handcuffs.
The Charges Add Up Quickly
Roberts was already carrying four outstanding misdemeanor warrants before this incident even started, and the arrest added several more charges to the pile.
She now faces battery on a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance inside a detention facility, according to police.
Off-Duty Does Not Mean Off the Clock
This case is a solid reminder that police officers do not exactly clock out of their training and instincts just because they are technically off shift.
The officer in this story stepped up to help a neighbor and ended up making an arrest before backup even showed up, all without being in uniform at the time.
As of the department’s release, Roberts was booked into custody on the combined charges. Chico Police have not indicated whether additional details from the investigation are still pending.