An argument that led to an alleged hate crime resulted in an arrest and the seizure of a cache of firearms, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said.
On March 20 deputies responded to an incident in South Dos Palos at the intersection of Cypress Road and Reynolds Avenue.
According to the sheriff’s office, John Jones, 45, had a verbal altercation with a 68-year-old man about not being allowed to farm on the man’s property.
Law enforcement said Jones called the victim racial slurs before grabbing him and pushing him into a vehicle. Jones then allegedly threatened to kill the man and retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and pointed it at the victim, the sheriff’s office stated.
Jones was arrested at his residence on suspicion of committing a hate crime and felony assault with a firearm. He was booked into the Merced County Jail. No bond is listed.
A search warrant was subsequently served at Jones’ residence, where 28 firearms were seized along with the gun that was used during the altercation, according to the sheriff’s office.
The incident remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this matter can contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office at 209-385-7445. Callers may remain anonymous.
