Novato suspect accused of threatening homeless campers

Novato police arrested a suspect accused of threatening the lives of homeless campers in Lee Gerner Park.

Police Lt. Alan Bates said the incident was reported around 5:30 p.m. Friday when the suspect got into an argument with campers over missing property. Suspect Giovanni Rashad Allison lived in the park.

Police found Allison on Saturday and booked him into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of making criminal threats and violating the terms of his parole. Allison, 39, is being held without bail due to an alleged parole violation.

The hearing is set for Thursday.

The authorized campground at Lee Gerner Park was closed in July due to alleged arson, but some campers pitched tents near the campsite. Allison was one of two suspects arrested during the arson investigation, but he was not charged with starting the fire. Her friend Brianna Marie Giudice pleaded guilty to burning her.