Northern CA deputies arrest man on DUI charge in alleged chainsaw assault

Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a man on suspicion of assault and driving under the influence of alcohol in Amador County after an alleged violent incident involving a chainsaw at a nearby campground.

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The arrest occurred at a small market in the town of Pine Grove, and the alleged assault reportedly occurred earlier at the Gold Country Campground, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office announced in a social media post.

Sheriff’s officials did not include the arrested man’s name or age in the social media post.

A resident at the campground called the Sheriff’s Office and said his neighbor had left the campground in his vehicle at a high rate of speed while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Deputies found the suspect’s vehicle outside the Pine Grove market. Sheriff’s officials said the deputies observed several objective signs of intoxication in the suspect’s behavior as they questioned him, and an initial alcohol screening revealed the suspect’s blood alcohol content was 0.20%, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08% for drivers in California.

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The suspect was wanted on a felony warrant for his arrest in Calaveras County that stemmed from a previous assault with a deadly weapon incident, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies later spoke again with the campground resident who said the suspect charged him while holding a running chainsaw, sheriff’s officials said.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in the alleged chainsaw incident and driving under the influence, along with the Calaveras County felony arrest warrant, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

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