Hatchet-Wielding Man Allegedly Attacks Ramonan

A man with a hatchet who allegedly chased a stranger in Ramona Thursday morning was arrested after a struggle with sheriff's deputies, authorities said.

The noninjury fracas in the 600 block of B Street in Ramona began about 6 a.m., when a resident went outside to investigate what sounded like someone pounding on the outside of his house and was confronted by a combative man he didn't know, according to sheriff's officials.

An argument ensued, prompting a neighbor to threaten to call 911 if the disturbance continued, Sgt. Kurt Torsak said. The aggressor responded by charging him, clutching a hatchet.

The victim fled, got into his truck and locked it as the assailant whacked on the driver's side door and shouted profanities for a time, then ran off, Torsak said.

Deputies sealed off the area and searched it, eventually finding and arresting the suspect, who was identified as 23-year-old Devin Michael Jones.

Jones was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism, threatening a witness, theft and being under the influence of a controlled substance, Torsak said.

Investigators later learned an air-conditioning unit, exterior wall and garage door at the home of the person initially targeted was bashed, dented and smashed up.

"The damage appeared to have been caused by a hatchet," the sergeant said.