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Camper was arrested after he allegedly threatened rock collectors with a gun

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Contributed Photo/Courtesy of GCSO: George Lopez was arrested and booked into jail for rioting and reckless display of a weapon.

By Jon Johnson

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GRAHAM COUNTY – A man camping with his wife was arrested and booked into jail Saturday after he allegedly threatened people with a gun who were looking for rocks in the area.

George Lopez was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and reckless display of a weapon.

The incident reportedly occurred in the area of ​​Haekel Road and Gas Line Road, east of Solomon.

According to a report from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, a couple said they were looking for rocks on the ground around noon and drove along a trail that went around Lopez’s gold Chrysler 200 as they left the area.

As they drove down the path, the couple said they saw Lopez in his vehicle and then were startled when they realized he was pointing a handgun at them. At that point, the couple said they were yelling that they were just looking for rocks and to stop pointing a gun at them. The couple said Lopez then got out of his vehicle and began running after them.

The couple then called the authorities.

Responding officers were at the intersection of Haekel Road and US Highway 70 when the suspect’s gold Chrysler 200 was spotted traveling north on Haekel Road. Due to the nature of the call, officers conducted a high-risk stop using a deadly weapon and temporarily took the occupants into custody.

When questioned about the incident, Lopez allegedly said a vehicle had repeatedly shone its headlights and flashlights into his car the night before and believed it was the same car as the rockhounding couple who were there at lunchtime acted the night before. Lopez said he became concerned when the vehicle drove toward his car and began yelling at them about what they were doing.

Lopez’s wife reportedly told an officer that she never saw Lopez point his gun because she was looking at the car, and that her husband would not show his firearm to the occupants because he is “very gun confident and never does that.” would”. However, the victims said Lopez was sitting in the driver’s seat and reached over his passenger to point the gun out the passenger’s side window.

In Lopez’s statement to police, he admitted to holding up the holstered gun while telling the couple to “leave him alone.” The victims said he pointed the gun at them without a holster.

The evidence included the pistol – a black and green 9mm Glock and the brown leather holster and magazine loaded with 15 9mm ball-nose cartridges.

Lopez was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct/reckless display of a weapon and booked into jail. Since Lopez’s wife did not have a driver’s license, the vehicle was secured to the side of the road and she and her animals were driven to a local hotel.

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