MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Sgt Chris Hewitt
Release Date: 12/10/12
Release Number: 1
Avery Man Arrested after a Dispute Involving a Firearm
(Avery, CA) On 12/05/12 at approx. 8:30 pm Calaveras Sheriff’s deputies responded to Safari Mobile Home Park in Avery for a report of a verbal altercation and shots fired. During the investigation the deputies learned that the suspect, David Michaelson (45) of Avery, became involved in an argument with David McKinsey (42) of Avery. The argument stemmed from Suspect Michaelson accusing McKinsey of stealing a gun from him. During the argument Suspect Michaelson went to his residence, retrieved a handgun, and confronted McKinsey again in the parking lot of the trailer park. During the confrontation Suspect Michaelson allegedly pointed the handgun (a revolver) at McKinsey and threatened to kill him. Suspect Michaelson then fired one shot into the air. Suspect Michaelson fled the area prior to the arrival of the deputies.
On 12/09/12 at approx. 3:45 pm deputies were called back to Safari Mobile Home Park for a report of someone breaking the windows out of a mobile home. Upon arrival the deputies contacted McKinsey and Suspect Michaelson. According to witnesses, McKinsey was outside of Suspect Michaelson’s trailer yelling and causing a disturbance. Suspect Michaelson, while standing inside his trailer, grabbed a gun and pointed it at McKinsey from a behind a window in the trailer. McKinsey became upset and broke the window. While investigating the situation of the broken window the deputies found that Suspect Michaelson had pointed a realistic looking toy gun at McKinsey. The deputies arrested Suspect Michaelson for the previous incident on December 5th. McKinsey was issued a citation for vandalism for the broken window. Suspect Michaelson’s girlfriend, Launa Morrison was also arrested on a misdemeanor warrant out of Sacramento. There was no evidence that McKinsey had stolen a firearm from Suspect Michaelson, and the allegedly stolen firearm was not recovered.
Suspect Michaelson was booked into the Calaveras County jail charging him with Violation of Probation (misdemeanor), Assault with a Deadly Weapon/firearm (felony), Criminal Threats (felony), and Negligent Discharge of a Firearm (felony). He also had an active misdemeanor arrest warrant out of Calaveras County
