A homeless man was arrested over the weekend for charging at an occupied vehicle with a knife he had concealed inside of a Bible.
On Sunday, October 25, Jesus Moranchel-Vergara, 29, of Branson approached a vehicle in Branson, near the Wendy’s on 76 Country Blvd. in Branson, and began staring into the windows at the vehicle’s three occupants. After walking a short distance away, he retrieved a knife from a Bible he had concealed inside his jeans near his ankle, according to the online probable cause statement filed by the Branson Police Department.
Moranchel-Vergara lifted the knife above his head “like he was going to stab the victims” and charged toward their vehicle. As the vehicle drove away from the scene, he reportedly attempted to stab the vehicle several times, according to the statement.
Moranchel-Vergara is believed to be a danger to the public and victims due to a history of being contacted in the past for public intoxication and for screaming at cars on the road. He has prior convictions for resisting arrest and showed no remorse for charging the victims with the knife, according to the statement.
Moranchel-Vergara has been charged with Felony 1st Degree Harassment, Felony Armed Criminal Action, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and three Counts of Misdemeanor 4th Degree Assault, according to online court documents.
As of press time, Moranchel-Vergara does not have any scheduled hearings listed online. He was booked into the Taney County Jail on Monday, October 26.
