Chico Police Arrest Two for Alleged Possession of Fentanyl for Sale
CHICO, CA — “During a planned anti-theft operation on Thursday, July 16, Chico Police Target Team Officers received a report of a shoplifting in progress by a known offender at Food Maxx on Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. When they arrived at the store, the suspect, Marliesa Hall, was seen walking out with several bags and meeting with another person, Gary Sapien Jr., in the parking lot. Both parties were stopped by Officers and detained for questioning, during which time they learned Hall is on probation.
An initial search of Hall’s bags uncovered a cigarette container concealing several small baggies storing what was later confirmed to be fentanyl.
During a search of Sapien Jr., the following items were recovered:
– Almost $1,300 cash
– 30 small clear plastic bags
– Scale (with white powder residue)
– 14.35 grams of Fentanyl
Based on the terms of Hall’s probation, Officers conducted a subsequent search of their shared dwelling at the Genesis Pallet Shelter, which revealed:
– Numerous items of drug paraphernalia
– Packaging materials
– 6 cell phones
– Scales & scale weights
– Used & unused drug packaging of assorted sizes
*Residue inside the used baggies was tested and confirmed to contain methamphetamine (1.49 gross grams) and fentanyl (0.4 gross grams).
40-year-old Marliesa Hall and 28-year-old Gary Sapien Jr. were both arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail for 11351 HS: Possession of narcotics for sale (F).”
