A spree of violent crimes in Calaveras County has ended with the arrest of one Eric Lee Hickerson Jr., 34, hailing from Copperopolis. Officials were alerted to Hickerson Jr.'s conduct after he had allegedly sent over 200 text messages filled with vulgar language and various threats. As victims feared for their well-being, a temporary restraining order was secured. In spite of the order, the suspect persisted in his messaging campaign, according to a recent Facebook post by the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office.
The situation escalated on the evening of February 24 when emergency calls reported shots discharged from a vehicle on Southworth Road, a residence fortuitously left unharmed by the gunfire. Hickerson Jr. was also reported, having assaulted an individual at a gas station on Highway 12 and followed the victim in his truck before eventually discontinuing the pursuit, as reported the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office deputies, these victims were not acquainted with Hickerson Jr.
Later, Hickerson Jr. proceeded to a property on Chile Camp Road, commencing property damage upon being refused entry. With a gunshot heard outside, arriving deputies located Hickerson Jr. after a collision involving his truck. While being detained, Hickerson Jr. resisted deputies, culminating in his arrest. A search later yielded three firearms from the suspect's vehicle and the scene, as per the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office.
After the arrest, Hickerson Jr. was booked into Calaveras County Jail on multiple felony charges. These include criminal threats and vandalism, as well as elder abuse, menacing an officer, and the unlawful possession of an assault weapon. Additional charges of carrying a loaded gun, negligent discharge, assault with a deadly weapon, and false imprisonment round out his list of alleged offenses.
