December 14, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

RE:  Felon arrested for Aggravated Assault

     On December 11th, 2020, at approximately 10:08pm, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the Ammon Division responded the 1400 S. Block of Falcon Dr. to a report of a male pointing a gun at people.  Witnesses told Deputies that 37 year old Joseph D. Vazquez approached individuals who were moving items out of an apartment and a verbal argument ensued.  During the argument, Vazquez pulled a handgun from his waistband and threatened to shoot one of the people involved.  Vazquez eventually went inside of an apartment and was contacted there by arriving Deputies. 

     Vazquez denied being involved in any disturbance and eluded to the possibility of having a gun inside the apartment, saying maybe it was a BB Gun and maybe it was not.  After being led by Vasquez to several possible locations inside the apartment where a supposed gun may be, other residents of the apartment indicated to Deputies they observed him put in into a bag near the rest of his belongings.  Deputies then located a 9mm handgun along with a loaded magazine in a bag belonging to Vazquez. Eventually Vazquez admitted to being part of the confrontation but told Deputies he only lifted his shirt to show a gun in his waistband. 

     As Deputies advised Vazquez he was under arrest, he attempted to pull away and resist causing Deputies to push him down to a nearby couch in order to secure him in handcuffs. Vazquez was transported to the Bonneville County Jail where he was booked for Aggravated Assault and Resisting Arrest.  A check of his criminal history showed Vazquez had several past drug related Felony convictions and he was also booked for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.