Falsely accused, man held at gunpoint by officer

A valley man says he was falsely accused and held at gun point by an officer of the law. Is it abuse of the badge? We’ve learned several agencies are now investigating.

“I’m looking down the barrel of a pistol and I put my hands up,” said Eddie Jones.

Jones told News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 he was walking back to his Palm Springs condo the morning of Aug. 29th when his neighbor, off duty probation officer Camryn Marinello, pulled up along side him in a parking lot.

“As I looked into the passenger window looking at her, I’m looking at the barrel of a gun. At that time she is screaming at me, ‘Where is my pistol? You broke into my house and you stole my pistol,'” said Jones.

The two first crossed paths that morning when Jones left to get coffee across the street, according to Jones and the police report.

“My neighbor and I, we have never physically met, but I knew that she lived there,” said Jones.

Apparently, Marinello didn’t know Jones, a 20-year marine corps veteran, lived there.

“She had it made up in her mind that I had broken into her house and that I had stolen her pistol. For whatever reason she came to that conclusion,” said Jones.

Then she called 911. According to the police report given to Jones, Marinello told 911 dispatchers she saw Jones in her apartment and he stole her handgun.

“I thought about all of the things that had been happening in the news. I was definitely thinking this was going to be one of those days where I was going to be shot in the parking lot,” said Jones.

When police arrived, her story changed. She did not see Jones take her gun or him anywhere near her apartment door, according to the police report.

“She happened to see me walking up the sidewalk because I lived there,” said Jones. “I could have been the pizza delivery guy, I could have been visiting a relative or a friend. She doesn’t have the right to chase me down and accuse me and hold me at gunpoint.”

Palm Springs police handcuffed Jones and put in him the back of a police car while police sorted things out. Jones commended the PSPD for their professionalism during the ordeal.

“They found no weapon in her place and in my place,” said Jones. “But for the grace of God and some cooler heads, I’m not the news story of another person being shot in a parking lot.”

Jones said Marinello apologized, her boss at the probation department also called.

“He stated that should not have happened. She had no right to hold me at gunpoint and he apologized for that,” said Jones.

Palm Springs police are still investigating. They will turn their findings over to the District Attorney’s office to decide if any charges should be filed.

The San Bernardino County Probation Department is also investigating the matter, but would not comment if Marinello is still on the job.

Jones also said Marinello apologized again and has since moved out. He is now looking for a lawyer to possibly file a civil suit.