A 29-year-old man was arrested while allegedly on his way to kill his girlfriend’s ex and his family, police say.
It happened Wednesday around 7:30 p.m. on Kim Avenue in Atwater.
According to the Atwater Police Department, officers found out that Ramon Maldonado threatened to kill his girlfriend’s ex.
Maldonado’s girlfriend, Jillian Johal, and Maldonado were in a dispute with Jillian’s ex-boyfriend over childcare, Atwater Police say.
During the dispute, Atwater Police say Maldonado allegedly made several threats toward the victim and his family stating he was going to kill them.
Police say Maldonado further allegedly tried to dissuade the victim from making a police report by making further threats of harm by using FaceTime to send pictures of Maldonado’s weapons to the victim to reinforce the threat.
Police found out that Maldonado was driving from Chowchilla to Atwater to carry out the threat.
Police set up surveillance near the victim’s house and saw Maldonado driving his girlfriend’s car near the house.
Officers pulled over Maldonado and arrested him without incident.
Maldonado was wearing a GPS monitor while on bail for an aggravated kidnapping case out of Stanislaus County, police say.
During the search of the car, police say officers found a loaded Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol was found stashed under the driver seat and latex gloves were found on Maldonado’s person.
Maldonado was booked into the Merced County Jail for the following charges:
- Conspiracy to commit murder
- Criminal threats
- Dissuading a witness
- Possession of a stolen firearm
- A prohibited person from possessing a firearm and ammunition
- Committing a crime while out on bail
His bail is set at $336,080.00
This case is still under investigation anyone with information on this case or another criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Atwater Police Department at (209) 357-6384.