RIVERSIDE: Officer chasing arson suspect down Mt Rubidoux injured, rescued
RIVERSIDE — An officer investigating reports of a man starting arson fires on Mt. Rubidoux was injured chasing the alleged suspect down a steep mountainside embankment, Thursday morning, Apr. 19.
Due to the difficult terrain where the officer was injured fire officials were forced to perform a technical rescue of the officer, who was hospitalized for injuries he received during the foot pursuit and subsequent arrest.
Javon Strange was arrested after fleeing from officers investigating reports of an arsonist setting fires on Mt Rubidoux. Riverside PD photo
After his arrest, Javon William Strange, a 40-year-old, Riverside area transient, was found to be on Post Release Community Supervision and he was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of arson, resisting arrest and probation violations, according to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback.
Jail records show Strange was also booked for a variety of warrants, including ten counts of failure to appear or pay a fine, four counts of providing false information to a police officer, two counts of refusing to leave a school’s campus, possession of a controlled substance and other charges.
Two Riverside PD officials and a Riverside Fire Department Arson Investigator responded to Mount Rubidoux about 9:30 a.m., after receiving reports of a man setting small fires along the mountainside.
When they arrived, a police officer and sergeant along with the Arson Investigator drove up the mountain while RPD’s Air Support Unit – Air1 circled overhead searching for the suspect.
Air-1’s aviation crew eventually spotted a man matching the alleged suspect’s description and a spotter directed ground officers to the man’s location on the mountainside.
As officials approached the man, later identified as Strange, he fled down a steep embankment; running down the rocky mountainside. Officials immediately gave chase, pursuing Strange down the embankment while ordering the fleeing man to stop.
Officials eventually managed to apprehend Strange, but during the foot pursuit and arrest the officer sustained a knee injury and was not able to get back up to the nearest path or trail.
“Due to the leg injury, steep terrain, and distance from the walking path, RFD’s Technical Rescue Team responded and evacuated our officer from the mountain before he was taken to a local hospital,” Railsback explained while thanking the fire department for their assistance during the arrest and rescue. “Fortunately, his injury was not serious and the officer was later released after treatment.”
Strange remains in custody at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, held on $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside’s Hall Of Justice, Apr. 23.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact Riverside PD at (951) 826-5700. Callers can refer to incident file number P18071595 and can remain anonymous.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and 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.