Man arrested after standoff with SWAT team

A nearly three-hour standoff ended Friday in the McSwain area of Merced County with one man in custody and facing possible felony charges, the Merced Sun-Star has confirmed.

John S. Grissom, 42, was arrested by the Merced County Sheriff’s Department after a standoff in the 5900 block of Salisbury Court.

Grissom barricaded himself inside his home just before 10 a.m. Friday when sheriff’s deputies tried to take him into custody on a felony warrant, charging him with making criminal threats in connection with an incident earlier this week, according to Sheriff Vern Warnke.

No one was injured. Grissom surrendered to deputies about 1:15 p.m.

He was being held Friday on $1 million bail, the sheriff said.

Grissom was previously arrested Dec. 15 and allegedly bit an Atwater police officer, Atwater police reported. He was released from custody the next day, according to Merced County jail booking records.

“There have been several incidents in recent days he’s been involved in, including the one that caused the deputies to get the arrest warrant (for threats),” Warnke said. “He’s going to be (medically) evaluated, and we’re going to get him the help he needs.”

Warnke said it did “not appear (Grissom) really understands that the things he’s been doing are concerning his family and law enforcement.”

Capt. B.J. Jones praised the work of the SWAT team and deputies, particularly the work of lead Detective Erick Macias.

“He (Macias) established a rapport with the suspect and was able to eventually help get him to surrender,” Jones said.

Grissom’s previous arrest in December also involved an extended confrontation with law enforcement. Atwater police arrested him after a stun gun was used to subdue him. Grissom allegedly bit Officer David Walker while being booked into jail. Walker was not seriously injured, police said.

This story was originally published January 9, 2015 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Man arrested after standoff with SWAT team."