MEAD VALLEY: Ax-wielding parolee arrested after setting family home ablaze
MEAD VALLEY — A man who officials say was possibly threatening his family while armed with an ax was arrested after setting his family’s home ablaze, Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 23. The standoff and fire happened at a residence on the 18000 block of Clark Street, south of Oleander Avenue, in Mead Valley.
Firefighters work to knock down an arson fire that destroyed a Mead Valley home. William Hayes/OCHawk photo
After being treated for possible smoke inhalation and released from an area hospital, sheriff’s officials arrested Jerry Irvin Avila, 32, of Mead Valley. He was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center for a variety of charges related to the incident and is being held without bail.
Although details about the violent encounter are still emerging, Riverside County Sheriff’s and Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire officials have released some information about the incident that destroyed the Mead Valley family’s home and ended with the alleged suspect hospitalized and in custody.
Sheriff and fire personnel along with other emergency first responders were dispatched to the home about 3:30 p.m., after receiving reports of an ax-wielding man who was threatening to harm family members at the residence, which was described as a double wide mobile home.
Officials have not yet released what led to the incident or any further information regarding the circumstances under which they were initially dispatched to the residence; however the home and other items on the property – including a mail box – appeared to have been vandalized or destroyed.
After arriving at the home, deputies from the Sheriff’s Perris Station attempted to convince Avila to exit the residence; however he refused to cooperate, Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Vasquez explained in a phone interview after the incident.
Saying Avila “was not barricaded… just not compliant,” Vasquez said Avila “would not come out of the home… and eventually set it on fire.”
Jerry Avila was arrested and later booked on multiple charges, including arson and making terrorist threats. William Hayes/OCHawk photo
After starting the residential blaze, which destroyed the home and displaced the remaining family members, Avila eventually did come out and surrendered to authorities.
After Avila was in custody, nearly a dozen firefighters from five engine companies and one truck company were able to quickly contain the fire, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson April Newman explained in an incident report. They were assisted by a breathing support unit.
While firefighters worked on knocking down the blaze and area residents looked on with concern, thick, black smoke billowed from the home and filled the sky.
American Medical Response eventually transported Avila to an area hospital to be evaluated and treated for possible smoke inhalation. After he was released, Avila was booked into jail.
An online jail records search revealed Avila was booked on suspicion of making terrorist threats, arson, vandalism and violation of parole. He remains in custody and is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside Hall Of Justice, Jan. 25.
There were no other injuries reported related to the incident, according to sheriff and fire officials.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact sheriff’s officials at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PC180230039 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Following breaking unplanned and planned incidents in Orange County and surrounding areas, OCHawk provides local and national TV networks with footage.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, 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 as well as 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.