June 29, 2015 - On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at approximately 7:30 p.m. the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call from the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The caller stated there was a man threatening people with a shotgun at the Church. Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area making contact with the suspect at gunpoint.
The suspect, identified as Mitchell Amonds, 46, a transient of Mariposa, was taken into custody. Mr. Amonds reportedly tried to enter the Church with a gun described as a “pistol grip shotgun with a scope” slung over his shoulder making verbal threats towards one of the victims.
Prior to Mariposa County Deputies arriving on scene, Mr. Amonds hid the weapon on the Church property. K9 Zeus and his partner were deployed to the scene to search for the reported weapon. K9 Zeus located the weapon near the Church’s cemetery.
Inspection of the weapon later determined it to be an air rifle pellet gun.
Mitchell Amonds was arrested and is currently being held at the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility for charges of 422(A) Felony Criminal Threats and 417(A)(1) Brandishing a firearm. He is being held on $50,000 bail.
Source: Mariposa County Sheriff Department
