REDDING: Parolee arrested trying to set garage afire, with children and others inside

REDDING — Authorities arrested a recent parolee they allege resisted arrest after allegedly trying to set fire to a garage while other people, including children, were inside it Friday, Aug. 18. After briefly holding officers at bay, he was apprehended with help from a Redding PD K-9.

John Strong, 31, of Redding, who is on parole for robbery, was later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of  arson to an inhabited dwelling, willful cruelty to a child, elder abuse, resisting or obstructing an officer and violation of parole.

An online jail records search revealed Strong remains in custody and is being held without bail.

Redding police officers responded to the 1700 block of Lazelle Court, east of Victor Avenue in Redding at 7:22 p.m., after 911 callers told SHASCOM emergency dispatchers that Strong was attempting to set his house and a garage at the home on fire.

When officers arrived at the residence, they located Strong in the backyard of the home trying to light several pieces of wood on fire, Redding Police Sergeant Chris Smyrnos explained in a written press release after the incident and arrest.

Strong refused to obey officers commands to surrender, forcing officials to call for additional officers and resources, including less-lethal options such as bean bag shotguns.

Officers continued to negotiate with Strong for 15 minutes; however, he remained uncooperative, telling officers that he wanted them to kill him.

“When it became apparent that Strong was not going to surrender, Redding Police K-9 Abel was deployed to assist in the apprehension,” said Smyrnos. Although Strong continued to resist arrest, officials eventually subdued the combative man and took him into custody.

After he was safely in custody, Strong was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries he received while being apprehended by K-9 Able. After receiving a medical clearance, he was booked into jail.

Anyone with information about this incident or arrest is encouraged to contact Redding police officials at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-60239 and can remain anonymous.

 

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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.