Deputies had a
”
run-in
”
with a man who is considered armed and dangerous last night and
are still up on Mount Madonna searching for him Wednesday morning,
according to sources.
Check back in later this morning for more on this breaking story.
Deputies had a “run-in” with a man who is considered armed and dangerous last night and are still up on Mount Madonna searching for him Wednesday morning, according to sources.
Joel Barnes, 39, of Gilroy, has a $25,000 warrant out for his arrest on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, felony domestic violence, stealing a gun and ditching a motorcycle, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies at the sheriff’s South County Substation had few details Wednesday morning, but Sgt. Susan Taylor confirmed that deputies had encountered Barnes Tuesday night.
Barnes was originally listed as one of the Gilroy Dispatch’s Most Wanted last month after deputies searched a home on the 5000 block of Hecker Pass Highway Aug. 15 looking for Barnes. Instead, deputies arrested two men in their 30s and a teenage girl who were staying in the house on various weapons and drug charges.
Deputies arrested the 17-year-old girl for selling methamphetamine and marijuana, possession of stolen property and a machine gun, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. They also arrested Raul Maciel, 30, for possession of machine guns, possession of stolen property, and selling methamphetamine and marijuana, among other charges, and Thomas Esparza, 39, for being under the influence of a controlled substance, Sheriff’s Lt. Dalia Rodriguez said.
Though she did not know if the arrestees were living together, “they were all staying there at the time,” she said.
Deputies also recovered at least half a dozen various guns. “Lots” of ammunition observed lying about the house gave deputies cause to search the residence, Rodriguez said. The residence’s three occupants were arrested without incident, she said.
Then, on Aug. 17, a nearby resident living on the 10000 block of Sycamore reported that Barnes had stolen a handgun worth $200.
Two days later at 4:39 a.m., Barnes abandoned a motorcycle in a yard on the 13000 block of Sycamore Avenue in Morgan Hill, according to police. The motorcycle was reported stolen out of Gilroy.
The sheriff’s office said Barnes should be considered armed and dangerous. Based on prior confrontations with the suspect, he tends to resist arrest, deputies said.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Joel Barnes may call the Sheriff’s dispatch at 408-299-2311.
