Mystery solved

The CN&R recently reported that Butte topped the list of California counties when it came to arrest-related deaths in 2014 (see “Butte death rate high,” Newslines, March 31). That was according to data presented on the Department of Justice’s new online transparency portal, OpenJustice v1.1.

When contacted for details, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey could shed light on only three of the four reported deaths. He contacted the DOJ about the fourth and, about a week later, received an answer.

On Dec. 18, 2014, Thao Chao, a 35-year-old Oroville resident, attempted to evade a California Highway Patrol car on his Honda motorcycle, which was being pulled over for a registration violation. He struck a power pole on Lincoln Boulevard in Oroville going approximately 100 mph, sustaining fatal injuries.