Campbell man arrested for animal cruelty following chaotic day-long rampage

Alex Baker
·2 min read

(KRON) — A Campbell man was arrested last Friday following a six-hour chaotic rampage, the Campbell Police Department said. It began around 1:15 p.m. when Campbell PD officers responded to reports of a man recklessly discharging a firearm into the air from his vehicle near Charmain Drive.

Police identified the man as 35-year-old James Raymond Auvigne of Campbell. Auvigne was recognized by officers from an incident last year in which he allegedly caused a disturbance in front of a Safeway, fled from police, and resisted arrest.

At around 2:35 p.m., CPD got another 911 call reporting a man behaving erratically on Superior Drive. He was firing a weapon into the air and kicking his dog, the report stated. In that case, Auvigne fled before officers arrived.

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Officers located Auvigne again on Colleen Way outside his vehicle and initiated a high-risk stop. However, the suspect jumped into his vehicle and took off at a high rate of speed. Officers then staked out neighboring areas to try and locate him again.

Another call came in around 5:02 p.m. reporting a man being punched by a suspect matching Auvigne’s description near W. Valley Drive. Officers found Auvigne a short while later and saw him driving erratically and committing numerous traffic violations.

Officers continued strategic efforts to locate him without initiating a potentially hazardous pursuit.

Two hours later, officers located Auvigne walking his dog in a parking lot south of Graves Avenue in San Jose. Another high-risk stop was initiated and Auvigne refused to comply with officers’ instructions.

Following what police described as “meticulous de-escalation techniques,” Auvigne was successfully placed under arrest. Subsequent investigation revealed that his weapon was a BB gun.

He was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for:

  • Willful discharge of a BB gun

  • Evading a peace officer

  • Resisting arrest

  • Reckless driving

  • Animal cruelty

“Throughout this challenging series of incidents, Campbell officers exhibited outstanding decision-making and dedication to safety and security of our community,” said Campbell PD Chief Gary Berg. “Their professionalism in navigating a volatile situation ensured the well-being of our residents and a successful outcome.”

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