Oct. 7, 2008 — Nine suspects were arrested in a raid on three Lassen County properties Tuesday, Sept. 30. All nine suspects were charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance, four were charged with conspiracy, two were charged with burglary, five were charged with possession of stolen property, and one was charged with grand theft. On Thursday, Oct. 2 three more suspects were arrested in the same area and booked in the Lassen County Adult Detention Facility for charges, which include possession of stolen property and conspiracy. A juvenile, who was with the three adults, was placed in the custody of the Lassen County Child Protective Services. According to a press release from the Lassen County Sheriff’s office, the suspects involved in the case are believed to be responsible for a series of residential burglaries and other thefts in the Lassen, Sierra and Plumas counties.

On Friday, Oct. 3, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department issued another press release, which identified the primary suspect in the crime spree as Rickie Biddle, 37, of Redding, Calif. Currently, Biddle is wanted for burglary, possession of stolen property and cultivation marijuana charges in Lassen County.

The press release said, “Biddle should be considered armed and dangerous and is believed to be in Lassen County, the Reno/Sparks area of Nevada or Shasta County, Calif.

In addition to Biddle, two more suspects allegedly connected to the case are still at large.

Search warrants were served on Phillips Ranch Road and Scott Road near the Hallelujah Junction area of Lassen County on the morning of Sept. 30.

The warrants were the result of a joint investigation by members of the Lassen, Plumas and Sierra sheriff’s offices, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol.

During the investigation, stolen property from cases in all three counties was discovered.

Officers were led to believe the suspects were allegedly armed and potentially dangerous to any law enforcement personnel attempting a search.

These concerns prompted the involvement of the Lassen and Plumas County SWAT teams.

The first two properties that were searched were within a few miles of each other.

They were laid out like strange survivalist compounds, according to officials, with two massive security gates blocking the road to the second compound, which contained most of the suspected stolen goods from Plumas County.

One official described the second compound as being in a state of “utter squalor,” with trailers and stolen vehicles littered all over the area.

About 40 officers stormed the area in a Mad Max style caravan, traveling down a dirt road while a CHP helicopter flew overhead.

A Lassen County armored SWAT car led the way through both gates.

Several officers pulled off at the first compound to secure the area, while the armored car headed through the second gate, with the majority of the officers following it.

The officers secured both compounds and later investigated a third property.

Suspects Karen Burton, 50, Robert Graham, 40, Roger Hubbard, 54, Kathryn Humbert, 52, Tamara Johnson, 40, Terri Langley, 54, John Phillips, 54, Steven Reel, 53 and Walter Humbert, 53 were arrested. The suspects were arrested without resisting and no shots were fired.

The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information pertaining to his whereabouts to call a local law enforcement agency.

The PCSO recovered property allegedly stolen in four different burglaries from Graeagle, Grizzly Road, Chilcoot and Frenchman’s reservoir.

The items included power tools, a motorcycle, an ATV, artwork and stereo equipment.

Property, allegedly stolen in several burglaries in Lassen and Sierra counties, was recovered as well.

These items included a new fifth-wheel travel trailer, numerous automobiles, home furnishing, clothing, coins and jewelry.

The Lassen County Narcotics Task Force also discovered an indoor marijuana cultivation set-up and seized 80 mature marijuana plants.

One suspect, Richard “Rick” McKay was not part of the Sept. 30 arrests. However, on Thursday, Oct. 2 the Lassen County Sheriff’s office received a report of people removing property where the raid occurred.

Law enforcement responded to the area and contacted three adults and one juvenile.

The adults were identified as Richard McKay, 51, Dominic Liso, 46, and Cindy Deaver, 56, all of Redding. At this point, only Lassen County has charged the suspects and is holding them in custody.

Plumas and Sierra counties could each add charges and conduct further searches as the investigation continues.

The three sheriffs departments, and CHP, along with help from Washo County law enforcement then returned to a previous crime scene and discovered two people walking around inside with flashlights.

According to Plumas County law officials, the two suspects are considered part of the crime spree. The suspects fled in a vehicle and abandoned it in front of a residence where they allegedly stole a parked vehicle. As of Friday, Oct. 3, the two suspects were still at large.

Plumas County Investigations Sgt. Greg Hagwood said, “This investigation marks a significant blow to a very active group of thieves operating in Plumas, Lassen and Sierra counties.”

“It is suspected that these individuals are responsible for numerous thefts and burglaries throughout the region as well as Nevada,” Hagwood noted.

He attributed the success of the investigation to the “cooperative collaboration of the dedicated members of the Lassen, Sierra and Plumas County sheriff’s offices and the California Highway Patrol.”

“The assistance of Lassen and Sierra counties is greatly appreciated by the officers of the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office.”