SLO County man arrested after threatening drivers, yelling racial slurs, police say
An Avila Beach man was arrested in Pacific Grove on Wednesday after allegedly driving erratically, yelling racial slurs and waving an aluminum bat at motorists.
Pacific Grove police officers responded around noon Wednesday to several reports of a man driving erratically, yelling, threatening other drivers and throwing items around the city in Monterey County, according to a Pacific Grove Police Department news release.
The man reportedly threatened others with an aluminum baseball bat and a shovel, at one point throwing the bat and beer cans at passing vehicles, the release said.
Police said witnesses provided a partial license plate of a Silver Chrysler Pacifica Van, aiding police in locating the vehicle.
Police “conducted a high-risk traffic stop” that involved officers brandishing less-lethal weapons and firearms, according to the release. No firearms or less-lethal tactics were deployed, police said.
The man was identified as John Ensor, a 49-year-old Avila Beach resident, according to police.
He was booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of driving under the Influence of intoxicants, hate crimes of race or ethnicity, exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm in a threatening manner, having an open container and being a person on bail using a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime, according to the release.
“The Pacific Grove Police Department does not tolerate hate crimes and takes these incidents extremely seriously,” Pacific Grover Police Chief Cathy Madalone said in the release.
Ensor was held in lieu of $30,000 bail for committing a felony while out on bail, according to Monterey County Jail logs. He is currently not in custody, jail records show.
