Antioch resident arrested for allegedly forcing man at knifepoint to jump into Dutch Slough waters
BETHEL ISLAND — An Antioch man was arrested but released with no charges filed after he allegedly backed a man into the Dutch Slough waterway at knifepoint, authorities said.
The 34-year-old Antioch man was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to file charges against him, according to court records.
Police said that on July 4, the man and the victim were on the 3200 block of Dutch Slough Road when another man handed a knife to the suspect, who brandished it at the victim and told him to jump into the water or get stabbed. Witnesses later told police that the victim started backing up toward a dock and shedding clothes, apparently considering the offer to get into the water.
When the 34-year-old man charged at the victim, he jumped into the Dutch Slough waterway and attempted to swim across, but needed to be rescued, police said.
The suspect was arrested nine days later on a $32,500 warrant for brandishing a weapon and making criminal threats, authorities said. He was released from jail four days later, court records show.
Police haven’t said what the two men were arguing about.