Prowler pulls gun-shaped lighter on homeowner – who responds with own, real gun

January 25, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

REDDING — A suspected Redding prowler learned the hard way not to brandish a gun-shaped lighter on a homeowner – who happened to be a concealed weapon permit holder – and responded by pulling out his own, very real handgun and chasing the would-be burglar from his neighborhood this morning, Saturday, Jan. 24.

Although no shots were fired during the confrontation, officials say the incident led to the arrest of 27-year-old, Jordan Rocky Ericsson, who now faces a variety of felony charges related to his subsequent apprehension. According to authorities, Ericsson was already on probation for an earlier burglary conviction out of Shasta County at the time of this morning’s arrest.

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City of Redding police officers were first alerted to the incident around 8:30 a.m. this morning, after a family living off Elizabeth Way noticed a man later identified as Ericsson “prowling around their neighbor’s vehicles,” Redding Police Officer Kurtis Stenderup reported after the man’s apprehension and arrest.

“The victims went outside and yelled at the male subject,” Stenderup described; saying Ericsson “yelled back at the victim and reached towards his waistband like he had a firearm.”

When the homeowner saw Ericsson brandishing what appeared to be a firearm at him and begin walking toward his home and family, the victim – a concealed weapon permit holder – pulled out his own, very real firearm.

Confronted with the real possibility of being shot, Ericsson fled into the neighborhood, according to Stenderup.

Officers say they arrested Jordan Ericsson after he allegedly brandished a handgun-shaped lighter at a homeowner, who happened to be armed with his own, very real, handgun. RPD photos

K-9 Handler Officer Williams arrived at the scene within minutes and quickly deployed his furry partner “Otto” to begin searching for Ericsson

Additional officers soon arrived in the area and assisted Williams and Otto in searching for Ericsson, who was quickly found hiding in a yard. When confronted by K-9 Otto, the hiding man wisely surrendered to officers.

During their subsequent investigation, officers searched Ericsson and discovered he was in possession of a silver and blue, torch-style lighter “that had a pistol-like grip on it,” explained Stenderup; who said officers did not find a real weapon in the man’s possession or within the neighborhood where he was found hiding.

Officers also found Ericsson was in possession of burglary tools and heroin.

Ericsson later admitted to checking car door handles inside the neighborhood and removing a purse from an unlocked vehicle at a different residence. He also told officers he did not have a real weapon, “but used his cell phone to imitate a firearm” when confronted by the homeowner.

Based on their investigation, officers arrested Ericsson and transported him to Shasta County Jail in Redding, where he was booked on suspicion of brandishing a replica firearm, loitering/prowling on private property, tampering with a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools, possession of illegal narcotics, and violation of probation.

Jail records indicate he remains in custody, where he is being held without bail.

After the arrest, Stenderup used the opportunity to remind residents, “While we always encourage neighbors to be on the lookout in their neighborhood, please be careful in confronting persons who you suspect are committing crimes as they may be armed. We always encourage you to move to safety and call 911.”

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or Ericsson’s alleged criminal activities is encouraged to contact Redding PD at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 20R005668 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.