A Joshua Tree man who had trespassed for several days was arrested Sunday, after he threatened to kill the property owner who had confronted him about trespassing. According to a Sheriff’s report, the owner of property in the 62100 block of 29 Palms Highway in Joshua Tree said he’s been installing a new fence along his property line, and he marked the boundary with a rope. The man told deputies about 4:30 p.m. Saturday that for the past three days, someone had been cutting the rope, and that he had seen the suspect trying to cut the rope on Friday. When the property owner confronted the trespasser, he said the suspect yelled profanities at him and threatened to kill him. He called Sheriff’s deputies again two hours later because the suspect had returned and was carrying a spiked golf club and a spiked dog collar, and had once again threatened to kill him. The property owner fled in fear for his life. The suspect was gone when deputies arrived, but about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, they located a man, later identified as Giovanni Zanetti, 68, who matched his description, in the 7000 block of Theater Road in Yucca Valley. After an investigation, Giovanni Zanetti was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats, booked into the West Valley Detention Center, with his bail set at $50,000.
