A fugitive was arrested in Gilroy late Wednesday night after he escaped from his jail cell at the Merced County Jail, according to a press release from the Gilroy Police Department.
Jason Grant Hunwardsen, 32 of Los Banos, surrendered to the Gilroy and Morgan Hill SWAT Team without incident at approximately 12:10 a.m. from a hotel room on the 8000 block of Monterey Road. A loaded handgun was in Hunwardsen’s possession at the time of his arrest, the GPD said, and he was immediately transported back to the Merced County Jail.
Prior to his arrest, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department notified the Gilroy Police Department Tuesday that an inmate with “a violent history” had escaped from jail and was potentially hiding in Gilroy, according to the press release.
Hunwardsen had been convicted of multiple felonies involving the use of a weapon. He was facing more than 20 years in prison, according to GPD Sgt. Pedro Espinoza.
Working together, Espinoza said the GPD and Merced Sheriff’s deputies learned that Hunwardsen was hiding in a hotel room on the 8000 block of Monterey Road. The Gilroy and Morgan Hill SWAT Team and the GPD’s Hostage Negotiation Team was called to assist in Hunwardsen’s arrest because of his “violent past and the fact he was a jail escapee and a fugitive,” Espinoza said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Department at (209) 385-7445. Parties wishing to remain anonymous may call Merced County Crime Stoppers at (855)725-2420 or text the word “Merced” and the tip to 274637 (CRIMES).
