Mariposa man arrested in murder attempt; guns, drugs seized

An assault investigation ended with a Mariposa man in custody after investigators found firearms, marijuana and a hashish oil manufacturing operation in his home, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department reported Tuesday.

Michael Cutter, 26, was identified as the man who allegedly tried to shoot a woman Thursday night at the Mariposa Arts Park during an argument, deputies said in a news release.

The victim’s identity was not released.

Kristie Mitchell, a Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, said the nature of the dispute remained unclear. “But they do know each other,” Mitchell said Tuesday.

Deputies said Cutter tried to fire a handgun twice, but the weapon malfunctioned and nobody was injured. The woman struck Cutter on the head with a rock, deputies said, and Cutter ran to a nearby vehicle.

Cutter was arrested the following morning at his home in the 4800 block of Mark Lee Road in Mariposa by deputies and the Yosemite National Park Service Special Response Team.

Investigators found a hashish oil manufacturing operation, along with 1,763 grams of marijuana, two rifles, two shotguns, butane, scales and packaging materials, deputies said.

A small handgun, believed to be the weapon used in the Art’s Park incident, was found near Miller Road in Mariposa, deputies said.

Cutter was booked into the county jail on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of firearms, manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of marijuana for sale.

He remained in custody Tuesday on $200,000 bail, authorities said.

Mitchell said Cutter could be arraigned as early as Wednesday in Mariposa County Superior Court.

This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Mariposa man arrested in murder attempt; guns, drugs seized."