California man arrested after using Orbeez gun in alleged hate crime

Joaquin Morton was arrested and booked into jail for resisting arrest, battery and commission of a hate crime

By Edward Era Barbacena

Officers with the Chico Police Department arrested a man early Monday morning after reports of an attempted hate crime toward a local business.

Police were dispatched to Main Street after receiving a call that the man, later identified as Joaquin Morton, entered the business and made derogatory statements in regards to sexual orientation to those in the business.

The CPD said the man then shot the workers with Orbeez, a popular toy containing superabsorbent polymer balls that grow once submerged in water. Orbeez can be discharged from a water pellet gun, gel blaster or splaterball gun.

One victim told police he was struck in the head with multiple Orbeez, but no medical attention was needed after the incident, according to officials.

As officers were on scene investigating the incident, Morton, along with two other people reportedly returned to the area of the business. When officers tried to stop Morton, they said he took off running, but was caught and detained about one block away.

Morton was arrested and booked into jail for resisting arrest, battery and commission of a hate crime, according to the CPD.