Deputies with a the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department’s
High Risk Team arrested four people over two days as part of a
shooting and possible narcotics-related incident, according to
police.
Deputies with a the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department’s High Risk Team arrested four people over two days as part of a shooting and possible narcotics-related incident, according to police.
Deputies began investigating Hollister residents Alejandro Anda, Teresa Riesto, Loren Pence and Howard Amidon after a shooting occurred on Los Viboras Road on Thursday, said HRT supervisor Detective Sgt. Wes Walker said.
Deputies discovered that Amidon, who was arrested for multiple felonies, including discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, issuing death threats and committing a felony while in possession of a controlled substance, had threatened to kill a resident on Los Viboras Road and shot one round from a .32-caliber Walther PPK into the air and another into a tree, Walker said.
Police suspect the altercation occurred over narcotics, but are still investigating that matter, Walker said.
After serving a search warrant to Amidon’s home at 4020 Bolsa Rd. on Sunday morning, they found the gun he had used to threaten the resident was stolen from a car about a week prior to the shooting incident, Walker said.
Police believe the car was stolen by Anda, who was at Amidon’s residence at the time the search warrant was issued, and who is dating the daughter of the person who’s car was stolen, Walker said.
Anda was arrested for violation of probation, and could be connected with the theft and arson of the stolen vehicle, Walker said.
Riesto was also at Amidon’s residence when deputies issued the search warrant, and was arrested for two local warrants, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
After making the arrests, deputies discovered that Pence had driven Amidon to Los Viboras Road, where the threats were made. Pence was arrested on Monday for conspiracy, issuing death threats, committing a felony while in possession of a controlled substance and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner – the same charges Amidon was charged with because he had knowledge of Amidon’s crimes, Walker said.
“If you’re there during the commission of a crime, it’s the same as you doing it,” Walker said.
Erin Musgrave can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 336 or at
