A sign at Teichert Ponds in Chico, CA labels the area “Chico’s Urban Oasis.” Several unhoused encampments now surround that sign and the ponds themselves. The Teichert Ponds camps have seen two shootings, one in 2021, and another in 2022. The area has
developed a negative connotation. This is a brief glimpse into safety at the ponds.
How safe are the ponds?
The answer to that question depends on who you ask. One unhoused resident, Ashton Bunch, recognized that the area has seen definite violence, including the two shootings; however, “it’s not chaotic every day like that,” according to Bunch.
In Bunch’s experience, most days at the ponds are relatively calm, but some days you have to keep an eye out for danger. According to Bunch, a common problem that occurs at Teichert Ponds is theft. Bunch recognized that there are thieves out there, and that a common problem is “homeless stealing from one another.”
Bunch said that when a theft occurs, the inhabitants attempt to establish who was near the item, and for how long. Bunch said that he saw no value in accusing people or assuming guilt.
Another inhabitant, Lisa, told a very different story from Bunch. Lisa, who declined to share her last name, said that she was there in the aftermath of the most recent shooting. Lisa was friends with one of the victims, and she said that she watched him die. Lisa said that she doesn’t feel Teichert Ponds is safe at all, and that there is “no measure of safety out here.”
According to Lisa, some of the violence has been perpetrated by outsiders, but some of the unhoused, specifically addicts, have also caused issues. “Some of the animosity the housed public has towards the unhoused public is very valid,” Lisa said.
One of Lisa’s problems is what to do with her garbage. Lisa says that unlike some unhoused, she refuses to break the law and doesn’t want to dump any garbage because that would be illegal. The result is that Lisa must keep it near her tent. Lisa said that she has asked the city to help provide a solution.
A Dog Incident
While Roadrunner staff was at Teichert Ponds, a dispute broke out. Two dogs began barking at an inhabitant and seemingly rushed the man. It is unclear what set the dogs off, but the man
quickly pulled out a taser and began threatening them. The dogs appeared to attack the man, and several other inhabitants, including the dog’s owner, rushed to pull them off.
After the incident, the man began shouting about one of the dogs, specifically claiming that it should be put down, and that he has the right to kill it. This started an argument with the dog owner, who said, “You touch my dog, I have the right to shoot you, homeboy.”
Answers varied as to whether or not this kind of thing is common. Bunch stated that he had never seen the dogs act in such a manner and that the dog who was harassing and threatening the man the most had PTSD.
Lisa said that she has seen that kind of thing happen before, specifically with those dogs.
Fire at the Ponds
Lisa said that a neighboring tent had been recently set on fire and that the inhabitants were inside when it occurred but got out safely and showed Roadrunner staff some of the burned debris.
The only fire that was recently reported occurred on November 18, when a fire crew extinguished an encampment fire at Teichert Ponds. According to Action News Now, firefighters reported that the fire was a cooking fire that was triggered by propane explosions. At this time, it
is unclear whether the fires were related.