A 47-year-old Santa Rosa man was arrested today after an hours-long standoff in which police say he climbed onto the roof of an occupied RV on Santa Rosa Avenue and set it on fire. Firefighters and officers worked through the night, shutting down a stretch of the avenue to keep bystanders out of harm’s way. The suspect, identified by officers as Jeramy Patton, allegedly tore up the RV, destroyed its rooftop air-conditioning unit, and threw large rocks, one of which hit a nearby vehicle. Patton was medically evaluated before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
According to the Santa Rosa Police Department, officers were first called out yesterday evening, and the situation dragged on today. Around 12:50 AM, investigators say Patton lit a fire on top of the RV, then started a second blaze that spread into the interior and caused structural damage. Police allege he smashed the rooftop air-conditioning unit with a metal bar, hurled rocks at bystanders and vehicles, and repeatedly ignored commands while claiming he was armed and had dynamite in a backpack. The department notes Patton was already on pre-trial release in an unrelated case, and that the incident is still under investigation.
Fire and tactical response
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