On Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at approx. 1:30 p.m., Officers with the Mitchell Police Division arrested 37-year-old Jay Joseph Peneaux, for the offenses of Aggravated Assault and Abuse of or Cruelty to a Minor. The arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred at approximately 10:56 p.m. on November 5, 2019 at a residence located on the 2300 block of S. Capital St. in Mitchell. While at this residence, Peneaux allegedly argued with a woman and he allegedly threated to shoot her. Peneaux then allegedly brandished a knife, walked towards the woman, and allegedly threatened the woman with the knife. Peneaux also allegedly forcibly threw a four-year-old child who was also at the residence, against a wall. The four-year-old child received minor injuries. The woman was not injured. Peneaux allegedly ran from the residence when another person arrived there. Police were then apparently notified of this incident. Responding Officers conducted a search of the area and did not locate Peneaux.
On Wednesday, November 6, 2019, a Mitchell Police Officer who was investigating this incident, received information that Peneaux may be at a Mitchell motel located on the 1200 block of S. Burr St. Police investigated that information, and determined that Peneaux had rented a room at the motel, and that he appeared to be inside of his room. During the course of this investigation, Officers received information that Peneaux often carried a loaded handgun. Due to the nature of this investigation, the information about Peneaux often carrying a handgun, along with Peneaux’s history of assaulting a Law Enforcement Officer, and others, the Mitchell Police Division Emergency Response Unit was called to the scene. After a short standoff, in which Peneaux would not answer the phone in his room, or answer his door, he was taken into custody, without incident, at the motel. Peneaux was taken into custody approximately one and a half hours after police arrived at the motel.
Aggravated Assault and Abuse of or Cruelty to a Minor are both class 3 felonies that are each punishable by 15 years in the state penitentiary and/or a $30,000 fine.