On the evening of February 09, 2022, we received a report of an assault that had just taken place at a residence on Westhill Road in Grass Valley. The victim was able to identify the suspect as Nye Petros, 44, Grass Valley and advised that he had already left the scene at the time of the 9-1-1 call. Through the investigation, it was determined that the incident occurred over an illegal marijuana sale. The victim also reported that several items were stolen by Petros at the time of the assault. A report of the incident was written and forwarded to our Major Crimes Unit where detectives have been actively investigating the case. The investigation uncovered that Petros was also identified as a suspect in several previous thefts at the victim’s residence.
On February 21, 2022, Detectives from our Major Crimes Unit served a search warrant at Petros’ residence on Kentucky Flat Road in Nevada City. Petros was not home when the search warrant was executed, however, detectives seized numerous items that the victim had previously reported stolen by Petros.
On March 29, 2022, deputies responded to a reported domestic violence incident on Inspiration Lane in Grass Valley. Upon arriving on the scene, deputies determined the incident involved Petros and he was believed to be barricaded inside of a residence on the property, refusing to come out.
Recognizing that Petros had no intention of coming out of the residence, the Mobile Crisis Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, two Sheriff K-9 units, Detectives, and Patrol personnel established a controlled perimeter around the house. Deputy Spittler and Crisis Worker Alvarado attempted communication with Petros, however, there was no response. During the attempts to get Petros to come out of the residence, detectives worked with the district attorney and superior court to obtain an arrest warrant for Petros as well as a search warrant for the property. Utilizing Sheriff’s K-9 “Vito,” deputies made entry into the residence where Petros was taken into custody without incident.
Petros was booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility for the arrest warrant, which included charges for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, dissuading a witness or victim, burglary, criminal threats, and brandishing a firearm.
On March 30, 2022, detectives from our Major Crimes Unit served an additional search warrant at a storage facility where Petros was known to store his personal property. At that location, thirteen firearms were seized, several of which were semi-automatic, including one short- barreled rifle. Two of the firearms were discovered to be “ghost guns” which are weapons that do not contain serial numbers and that are not commercially manufactured. Thousands of rounds of ammunition and sets of body armor were also seized. Additional charges of being a felon in possession of firearms, felon in possession of ammunition and illegally possessing body armor were added to Petros’ jail booking.