Three nabbed in Forbestown home invasion robbery

Three people were jailed on Friday in connection with a home invasion robbery in Forbestown, the Butte County Sheriff's Department reported.

Deputies arrested Marcus Dimitri Jones, 35, of Chico, Derek Elden Pierce, 31, of Oroville, and Christopher South, 24, a Butte County resident on parole for burglary, according to a statement from the Sheriff's Department.

Two men burst into a home around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday on Lone Oak Drive in Forbestown. They pepper sprayed a resident in the face, stole numerous firearms and the resident's pickup, authorities said.

Deputies spotted South, the driver of the stolen truck, a few minutes later heading west on Olive Highway and gave chase. Speeding around 70 mph, the authorities followed South, who lost control of the truck around Foothill Boulevard and Oroville-Quincy Highway and crashed into a power pole, shearing it from the ground.

The truck then veered into another vehicle and a fire hydrant, then careened into an empty home, causing a fire, authorities said.

South tried to run, but was captured trying to enter another home on Canyon Highlands Drive.

No one was injured, thje authorities said.

Inside the truck, deputies found pepper spray and other items they said were stolen from the Forbestown home.

Detectives later identified Jones and Pierce as the other two people involved in the robbery, authorities said.

Jones was arrested at his home in Chico.

Deputies spotted another vehicle associated with the robbery parked an Oroville casino and followed it, which eventually led to Pierce's arrest, authorities said.

South was arrested for possession of stolen property, vehicle theft and home invasion.

Jones and Pierce were booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on suspicion of burglary, vehicle theft, robbery, possession of stolen property and false imprisonment.

Bail was set at $195,000 for each.