On January 30, 2014, at approximately 12:31 p.m., officers McDonald was dispatched to the area of Pacheco Boulevard and 9th Street related to a disturbance. Los Banos Elementary students were reportedly walking to a local business with a teacher as part of a school reward. A man identified as 42-year-old Chad Pell of Los Banos, began yelling at the students and made threatening gestures towards the 10 and 11-year-olds.
A school employee witnessed Pell continuing to make threatening gestures as reported by the students. Officers arrived and contacted Pell in the area.
Pell was arrested for criminal threats and booked into the Los Banos Police Department Jail. Pell remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 Ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or visit the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org
