Members of the Gilroy Police Department’s Anti-Crime Team unit captured an armed, convicted felon and fugitive Friday.
Transient Jacob John Hall, 28, was arrested by authorities on a slew of charges including grand theft; two warrants for evading police/resisting arrest; being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm; possession of a stolen gun; felon in possession of ammunition; possession of heroin; possession of six or more ounces of marijuana; possession of burglary tools and resisting/delaying police, according to a press release from the Gilroy Police Department.
Around 4:45 p.m., ACT members were in the area of Fairview Drive when they recognized a wanted felon outside of a residence, the press release states. ACT detectives recognized Hall, “who moved to Gilroy from Hollister in an attempt to abscond from the conditions of his Post-Release Community Supervision grant in San Benito County,” according to the press release.
Post-Release Community Supervision, which is part of AB-109 signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011, is the effort to reduce the state prison population by assigning low-level felons to county jails and community supervision rather than state parole.
“The legislation shifts custodial responsibilities and post-custodial supervision (i.e. parole) back to the local jurisdictions for some incarcerated parties,” GPD Cpl. Brian Dutton explained in the press release.
Authorities say Hall attempted to flee when he saw ACT detectives and patrol officers approaching him. Hall resisted the efforts of police and was subdued, according to the press release. Police say Hall was in possession of a loaded firearm, several pieces of heroin, various types of ammunition, marijuana, shaved keys and narcotics paraphernalia. Hall was also under the influence of a controlled substance while carrying a loaded firearm, which is a felony offense, police say.
Additionally, Hall was wanted for evading the GPD during a vehicle pursuit that occurred in August. Prior to that, he ran from GPD officers on at least two other separate occasions, according to the press release.
“In the past two years, the Anti-Crime Team has increasingly dealt with other recently released felons per the realignment program,” Dutton states in the press release. “Although these individuals were released on PRCS for their last prison commitment offense which was considered ‘non-violent’, the Anti-Crime Team has found many of these persons have past convictions or they are involved in violent offenses.”
Dutton adds the GPD is “committed to ensuring the public’s safety by effectively monitoring persons on supervised release.”
To read more about AB-109, see the story attached with this article.
Anyone with information regarding persons who are absconding from the terms of their supervised release, including probation, parole, or PRCS are encouraged to contact the Anti-Crime Team.
