On Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at approximately 10:27 a.m., during a traffic saturation event, a patrol deputy from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black Acura coupe on SR 208 near Day Lane, located 100 yards from Smith Valley Schools, due to the vehicle being unregistered.

Upon stopping, the driver exited the vehicle and informed the Deputy that he did not possess a driver’s license and was currently out on bond from another County. The suspect, Chad Tichenor, was detained in the back of the deputy’s patrol vehicle due to his behavior. A records check revealed two outstanding warrants from Douglas County. The warrant from District Attorney’s Office lists the following charges:

  • Habitual Criminal (Category A Felony)
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person (Category B Felony)
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance (Category E Felony) – Two Counts
  • Possession of Burglary Tools (Gross Misdemeanor)
  • Bail: $ 10,000 cash-only.
  • Bench Warrant
  • Charges:
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance (Category E Felony)
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor)
  • No V alid Driver’s License (Misdemeanor)
  • Unregistered Vehicle (Misdemeanor)
  • No Insurance (Misdemeanor)
  • Bail: $ 8,000 cash-only
  • Total: $ 18,000 cash only.

An additional felony warrant was found from Riverside, Calif., for drug-related offenses with a bail of $ 100,000.

The combination of these three warrants could potentially result in a life sentence for Tichenor.

Due to the narcotics-related charges outlined in the warrants and his behavior during the traffic stop, a K9 unit from Douglas County was summoned to the scene, accompanied by another deputy from the same county. The K9 performed an open air sniff around the vehicle and indicated a positive alert for the presence of narcotics.

A subsequent search uncovered controlled substances and paraphernalia. During an interview, Tichenor acknowledged his affiliation with the Sureños street gang, a fact corroborated by his tattoos and the blue bandana discovered in the vehicle.

Tichenor received a citation for his traffic violations. He was subsequently taken into custody by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Douglas County Detention Center.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to ensuring the safety of the community through proactive investigations and enforcement.