Tuesday night riot

Chico police officers responding to reports of a large fight near the intersection of West First Avenue and North Cedar Street Tuesday night (May 17) arrived to find between 30 and 40 people engaged in verbal and physical altercations. It took officers several minutes to calm the crowd and get to the source of the chaos, according to a Chico Police Department press release.

Witnesses told officers the incident began with a physical altercation between Colby Thompson (pictured) and his girlfriend, after which Thompson walked away upset and allegedly began challenging onlookers to fight. A 34-year-old male neighbor, whose name was withheld by authorities, began arguing with Thompson and armed himself with a metal pipe. Thompson allegedly stripped him of the weapon during the ensuing dust-up and struck the man in the hand, severing the victim’s pinky finger.

Thompson fled the scene, but called police several hours later to turn himself in. He was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and battery with significant injury. His bail was set at $80,000. The victim was treated at Enloe Medical Center.