A Burson man was arrested by Calaveras County sheriff's deputies after he attempted to rob a homeowner at a residence located in the 5800 block of De Los Angeles Road in Burson earlier this month.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, Mike Nicholson III, 24, knocked on the door of William Six's residence on De Los Angeles Road. Six answered the door and found Nicholson standing there with a 10-inch knife. Nicholson told Six to give him the keys to his best truck and reportedly said, "I'm robbing you," according to a release from the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office.

Six balked and closed the front door. Concerned Nicholson was going to remain outside his residence or steal one of his vehicles, Six retrieved a firearm. Six confronted Nicholson at the bottom of his driveway and ordered Nicholson to the ground. Six told deputies Nicholson sat down for a short time, but became belligerent.

According to Six, Nicholson said he did not have to remain at the scene and started to get up off the ground. Six responded by firing a warning shot into the ground. That seemed to do the trick, as Six was able to hold Nicholson at gunpoint until Deputy Jim Moser arrived to take Nicholson into custody.

During the confrontation, Nicholson reportedly threatened to do harm to Six and his wife.

Nicholson was booked at the Calaveras County Jail on charges of attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and public intoxication. Nicholson is being held at the Calaveras County Jail on $55,000 bail.

In another incident of an ordinary citizen spoiling an attempted crime, an Arnold gas station clerk stopped a would-be armed robber by spraying him with mace the night after the attempted robbery in Burson.

At approximately 10:20 p.m. that Tuesday, the clerk of the Arnold Chevron was confronted by a subject wearing a ski mask pointing a handgun at her. The suspect told the clerk to "put the money in the bag," according to a news release.

The clerk responded by spraying the suspect in the face with mace. That didn't deter the masked suspect, as he again demanded the money and threatened to shoot the clerk if she did not comply. The clerk sprayed the suspect in the face a second time. The clerk told deputies the suspect then left the store. As the suspect was leaving the store, he removed the ski mask and revealed to the clerk he had short, light-colored hair.

The suspect is described as a white male adult, between the ages of 18 and 30, approximately 6 feet tall with short, light-colored hair. The suspect was described to be wearing a dark ski mask and dark-colored ski parka.

The sheriff's department is not releasing the victim's name at this time to protect her from possible retaliation.

It should be noted that mace is a personal protection tear gas spray that was commonly used by law enforcement prior to the advent of pepper spray.

The sheriff's department is urging anyone with information regarding this case to call the sheriff's department at 754-6500 or the anonymous tip line at 754-6030.

The sheriff's department is also seeking information on a Pioneer parolee who led Calaveras deputies on a vehicle chase through West Point on Nov. 9.

The Amador County Sheriff's Office contacted the Calaveras department about Dirk Caviglia, 33, a wanted parolee who was headed their direction on Highway 26.

Deputies Robert Huffman and Tom Oldham spotted Caviglia's 2001 Ford pickup truck and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Caviglia accelerated, reaching speeds up to 70 mph. During the pursuit, Caviglia lost control of the truck and crashed on Main Street in West Point. The vehicle came to rest on its side. Caviglia climbed out the window and fled the scene. Deputies from Calaveras and Amador departments searched the area along with a K-9 unit, but did not locate Caviglia. It was later learned the vehicle Caviglia was driving was stolen in Linden. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident, as well as the stolen vehicle.

Caviglia is currently wanted for a parole violation and deputies are seeking an arrest warrant charging Caviglia with eluding a peace officer with wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property and resisting arrest.

Caviglia is described as a white male adult, 5'10," 220 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Those with knowledge of his whereabouts are urged to call the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office at 754-6500 or on the anonymous tip line at 754-6030.

Meanwhile, El Dorado County sheriff's deputies are seeking a truck reported stolen from Northern Energy Propane on Davidson Road in El Dorado some time between Nov. 17 and 18. The company's manager reported that one of his service trucks had been stolen from a locked storage yard.

The service truck is described as a flatbed 2003 white Ford F550 with a boom lift crane attached to the back of it. It has "Northern Energy Propane" written on both sides and has the license plate of 7J43076.

Anyone with information should call Detective Rich Horn at (530) 642-4715.