Chico man sentenced to more than six years in prison after officer-involved shooting and rampage

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – A Chico man was in court Thursday where he was sentenced to six years in state prison on multiple charges related to a “criminal spree” that led to an officer-involved shooting last April.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said 41-year-old Jason Anthony Sampson was wanted by police after he physically assaulted his girlfriend twice. Ramsey said the assaults occurred on April 12 at two different public locations in Chico.

According to Ramsey, it was like a “cat and mouse game between Sampson and local law enforcement.” Law enforcement was actively searching for Sampson while he allegedly taunted them by threatening officers in a phone call.

“Between April 14 and 15, 2024, officers from the Chico Police Department and Butte County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted multiple vehicle pursuits involving Sampson. Sampson’s vehicle was spotted and pursued by Chico, but was able to evade capture when his driving became too reckless and officers stopped pursuing them. “At the time, Sampson was living in his vehicle,” Ramsey said.

Officers managed to install spike strips during a final chase, destroying Sampson’s tires. Ramsey said Sampson then drove on his rims until he crashed at the intersection of Hegan Lane and Huss Drive in southeast Chico.

After the accident, Sampson continued the chase and fled on foot. At that point, according to Ramsey, Sampson held a loaded gun to his head while walking toward officers who had surrounded him with their own weapons drawn.

“Sampson refused to put down the weapon despite officers shouting commands at him. He then attempted to get into a truck parked nearby, then ran to a nearby empty Chico police cruiser, climbed into the driver’s seat and closed the driver’s door while still waving, “A Chico police officer and a sheriff’s deputy have multiple shots fired at the car,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey said Sampson was hit by multiple bullets in the patrol car. He was taken to Enloe Hospital for treatment, where he remained for over two weeks before being transferred to the Butte County Jail.

“At the scene, Sampson’s loaded .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol was located in the CPD car and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun was located in Sampson’s damaged vehicle between the driver’s seat and center console. Additionally, officers found the personal items of “an individual whose car was broken into earlier in the night,” Ramsey said.

Sampson had pleaded no contest as of Aug. 8, 2024, to the felony counts of domestic violence, reckless fleeing from pursuing officers, displaying a weapon to avoid arrest, attempted vehicle theft and auto burglary.

Finally, on October 17, 2024, Sampson had to answer for his crimes by being sentenced to six years and four months in state prison.