Arrest For Allegedly Threatening Minors With Gun In Tuolumne Park

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Tuolumne, CA — The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office reports that a man allegedly drove by the park in downtown Tuolumne, took out a gun, and threatened minors.

The incident happened this past Monday and was reported to the sheriff’s office the following day, Tuesday. Interviews led to the identification of the suspect, 24-year-old Juan Padilla-Alvarez of Tuolumne.

The sheriff’s office reports, “Deputies spokes with multiple juvenile victims. The victims told deputies they had been walking near the park in Tuolumne when Padilla-Alvarez slowly drove near them. The victims said Padillia-Alvarez brandished a handgun, told them he did not care that they were minors, and that he would shoot them. The victims told deputies they believed Padilla-Alverez’s threat, felt afraid, and quickly left the area.”

As the minors took off, Alvarez-Padilla reportedly told them they “better run.”

Deputies found the vehicle on Tuesday at 5:45 pm in a nearby driveway in Tuolumne and placed Padilla-Alvarez under arrest. He had a loaded 27-round magazine tucked into his waistband. After seizing the handgun, deputies determined that the weapon did not have a serial number, and is what is referred to as a “ghost gun.” Padilla-Alvarez is prohibited from having a handgun.

He was transported to Tuolumne County Jail on charges of criminal threats, exhibiting a firearm in a threatening manner, possession of a firearm by a person subject to a court order, possession of a large capacity magazine, carrying a handgun while not the registered owner, and other offenses.