Man burning illegal fire threatens county firefighters

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Man burning illegal fire threatens county firefighters

Firefighters called sheriff's department for assistance; man was arrested after he fought with deputy over control of his baton
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — A Wonder Valley man was arrested Monday after he fought with a sheriff's deputy over control of his baton and was combative with county firefighters who had responded to his home for an illegal fire.

Robert Robertson, 46, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer and booked into West Valley Detention Center, in Rancho Cucamonga, on $1 million bail, according to a sheriff's department press statement.

Firefighters responded to the home in the 6700 block of Sandpit Ranch Road, in Wonder Valley for an illegal burn and Robertson refused to put out the fire, according to the statement.

Robertson threatened fire personnel with garden tools, and became extremely hostile with firefighters so they requested assistance from the sheriff's department.

A deputy arrived at the home at 10:30 a.m. and while attempting to detain the suspect, Robertson started to fight with the deputy.

The deputy tried to gain compliance from Robertson, but Robertson attacked the deputy and the two men began to fight over the deputy's baton, according to the sheriff's statement. As they continued to fight aggressively on the ground, fire personnel tried to distract Robertson.

Firefighters distracted Robertson long enough that the deputy could push him aside. The deputy tried to use his Taser, but it was ineffective.

Th deputy eventually subdued Robertson and placed him in handcuffs in the back of his patrol car.

Robertson is scheduled to be arraigned on his charges at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Joshua Tree Superior Court, according to the statement.

The deputy was transported by ambulance to High Desert Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries and released later Monday evening.
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Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Thursday, April 19, 2012