Man with concealed weapons permit holds at gunpoint suspect who grabbed mail carrier

A man who claimed to be playing a prank on a U.S. Postal Service worker was held at gunpoint by a bystander with a concealed weapons permit in west Modesto on Wednesday afternoon.

The postal worker was delivering mail on Shaddox Avenue, northwest of Woodland Avenue and Carpenter Road, at about 12:40 p.m. when the man came up behind her and grabbed her arm, said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Sharon Bear.

Bear said the woman screamed and the man ran off. However, a witness, who had the concealed weapons permit, pointed his gun at the suspect and told him to stop.

Bear said the suspect complied, staying put until officers arrived.

The suspect told officers he was jogging in the area and decided to play a prank on the postal worker and didn’t intend to hurt her.

Bear said nothing contradicted his account and police had had no prior contact with him.

Juan Melara, 19, was cited on suspicion of battery and released.

The Postal Service is also conducting its own investigation into the incident.

This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 3:54 PM.