TRINITY — A convicted felon brandishing a weapon while driving around the Trinity area was arrested Sunday after claiming he was “going pig hunting.”
Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said in a post on social media that his office was notified early Sunday that a man displayed a firearm and announced that he was going to drive around Trinity and kill police officers.
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Randall Alan Konetzke, reportedly told witnesses he had a plan that he was going drive around attempting to have law enforcement stop him and so he could shoot the police officer.
Wallace said Konetzke is a known felon and out on bail.
Reports indicate the suspect was driving recklessly, erratically and running emergency lights through town and down FM 356, apparently attempting to get law enforcement attention. He also was seen sitting outside the Trinity Police Department for several minutes before speeding back to FM 356.
Law enforcement officers found Konetzke parked on the side of a road, out of his vehicle and talking to a passing motorist; when the suspect saw the marked units he began walking hurriedly back to his truck. Officers commanded him to stop; Konetzke refused and attempted to get into his truck.
After a brief struggle to gain control of the criminal, officers were able to take Konetzke into custody. A loaded firearm was located under the driver’s seat.
Wallace said in his post that when criminals threaten the police, they will be hunted down.
Konetzke was charged Sunday with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a third-degree felony; terroristic threat against a peace officer or judge, a state jail felony; and resisting arrest, search or transport, a misdemeanor.
Previously, on Oct. 17, he was arrested on a warrant for criminal trespassing and another charge of resisting arrest, search or transport, both misdemeanors.
