Merced deputies searching for wanted parolee

Merced County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man described as a parolee who is considered armed and dangerous.

Jason Farnsworth, 41, is wanted in connection with an incident of alleged harassment and trespassing that occurred around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at a business in the 1200 block of East Childs Avenue in Le Grand, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Department.

No injuries were reported.

Deputies said Farnsworth was allegedly harassing an employee and ran when deputies were called.

Investigators believed Farnsworth may have been armed with a rifle when he fled into a nearby building. Deputies surrounded the area and deployed a sheriff’s canine team to help with the search. Deputies ordered everyone to come out of the building, Sgt. Delray Shelton said.

Wayne Allen Tullett, 30, of Le Grand, who was also apparently inside the building, eventually surrendered to deputies, but Farnsworth had disappeared. Tullett, whose connection to the incident was still unclear Wednesday afternoon, was spotted inside the building holding a .22-caliber rifle before he surrendered, deputies said.

Tullett was booked at the Merced County jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was no longer in custody Wednesday evening, according to jail records.

Farnsworth is described as a white male adult, about 5 feet 7 inches and 180 pounds. Shelton said Farnsworth is on parole, but details of Farnsworth’s criminal history were unavailable Wednesday.

This story was originally published November 19, 2014 at 7:21 PM with the headline "Merced deputies searching for wanted parolee."