News Now: Warrant sweep nets child endangerment arrests

A city police warrant sweep landed a Willows couple behind bars Thursday on suspicion of child endangerment and other chargers.

Shellbe Larabee and Guadalupe Vasquez were arrested after police found 1.3 grams of crystal methamphetamine on the floor of a bedroom closet near a loaded sawed-off shotgun.

Willows Police Chief Bill Spears said both the weapon and the drugs were within easy reach of a four-year-old child.

Willows Police had arrest warrants for Larabee, 22, and 19-year-old Justin McGlothin of Willows. Spears said McGlothin was living with Larabee and Vasquez on the corner of West Sycamore and South Villa Streets.

McGlothin was not home when police arrived around 1:30 p.m., however, Spears said investigators did recover his wallet and identification at the scene.

Larabee was booked on suspicion of a variety of parole violations including possession of methamphetamine, possession of drugs for sale, possession of an illegal weapon, and child endangerment charges. He is being held without bail in Glenn County Jail.

Larabee’s parole stemmed from burglary and vehicular manslaughter convictions in 2004, according to court records.

Vasquez, 21, was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and remained in custody Friday on $10,000 bail.

The child was placed in custody with Child Protective Services.

Nearly six hours later, police received word that McGlothin was reportedly brandishing a knife near the Cedar Hills apartment complex. Police spotted McGlothin a few minutes later on the corner of Wood and Pacific Streets.

“Officers said he was clenching a knife in his teeth pirate-style and ran when he saw police,” Spears said.

He was pursued and arrested.

“He ran a few blocks, hiding behind bushes and doubling-back and he dropped the knife somewhere,” Spears said. Investigators were unable to locate the weapon.

McGlothin was booked in Glenn County Jail with three failure-to-appear warrants for minor drug charges and for resisting arrest. He was still in custody Friday pending $32,000 bail.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.