Man threatens group of hikers with sledgehammer in California mountains, cops say
A man accused of threatening multiple hikers with a sledgehammer in the California mountains has been arrested, deputies say.
Patrick Flinn, 66, was arrested on six felony charges stemming from two separate incidents, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a May 23 news release.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges, KCAL reported.
Deputies put out a call for information about Flinn on Thursday, May 22, seeking anyone who may have encountered him on Barrett Stoddard Road Trail in the San Bernardino Mountains in Mt. Baldy.
At the time, deputies described Flinn as being “extremely dangerous, violent, and known to carry large knives.”
On Jan. 12, according to deputies, Flinn was armed with a sledgehammer when he “harassed and threatened to harm five hikers.”
He told them “to get off of his property,” Detective Lisa Ondatje told the Orange County Register.
The hikers fled and called authorities, deputies said.
Then, on May 16, Flinn is accused of confronting a woman who was hiking alone, deputies said.
Flinn “waved a large tree branch” and prevented the woman from continuing on her hiking path, according to deputies.
She managed to escape when two hikers appeared, including one who distracted Flinn, Ondatje told the Orange County Register.
Deputies responded shortly after and arrested Flinn, deputies said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed five felony counts of criminal threats and one felony count of false imprisonment against Flinn on May 20, deputies said.
Flinn, who is being held on $295,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court June 2, deputies said.
Mt. Baldy is about 45 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Man threatens group of hikers with sledgehammer in California mountains, cops say."
