Woman set ablaze in “horrific” incident outside Redding City Hall – Man arrested

December 6, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Monday, Dec. 7, 8 a.m., With additional details from witnesses

UPDATED: Monday, Dec 7, 11 a.m., With further information from Redding PD, along with the suspect’s booking information, and other details.

Originally published: Sunday, Dec. 6, 11:21 p.m.

REDDING, Calif. — Details are beginning to emerge after a wanted felon on probation reportedly doused a woman with a flammable liquid before setting her ablaze on the south side of Redding City Hall Sunday afternoon, Dec. 6.

The woman remains hospitalized after what one witness called “a horrific” incident, while a man who had multiple warrants and refused to cooperate with police was arrested and later booked into jail on multiple new felony charges along with his warrants.

The suspect was officially identified this morning as 39-year-old, Brent Adam Serrano.

Court and other records gathered by SCNS affiliate reporter Joetta Ferguson indicate Serrano has a lengthy criminal history throughout California; including arrests in Shasta, Amador, Stanislaus and San Benito counties. Some, but not all, of his prior charges include at least two separate charges of carrying a concealed firearm, multiple charges of battery, DUI, and two counts of murder.

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City of Redding Police and Fire personnel were alerted to the incident shortly before 12:30 p.m., Redding Police Sergeant Slagle initially reported; saying he could only confirm that a woman was doused with some type of accelerant and set on fire.

Official radio traffic at the time indicated the victim was located on Lanning Avenue, just south of the City Hall. Once stabilized, the victim was rushed to a local hospital as a Trauma Alert for treatment of her injuries. She was later airlifted to UC Davis’ Burn Center.

Information gathered from official radio traffic also indicated that officers had located both the accelerant as well as the “torch” that was used during the attack.

Officials have confirmed Brent Serrano was arrested after allegedly dousing a woman with accelerant and lighting her on fire. Redding PD photo

Witnesses have since described the victim’s injuries as “severe burns to her back and shoulders, as well as to her chest, arms, hands and face. Officials this morning confirmed the victim sustained “significant burns to parts of her body” and remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Citing the early and ongoing nature of the investigation, Slagle initially said he could not provide the name of either the victim or suspect and that no further information could be released at that time.

However, in an official release this morning officials explained, “After interviewing multiple witnesses it was determined that Serrano intentionally doused the victim with a liquid type fuel and then lit her on fire after an argument.”

“The victim was able to extinguish the fire but not after receiving significant burns to parts of her body,” Redding PD said in their release.

Officials have also reported the suspect was detained without incident but refused to cooperate with officers.

Online jail records indicate officers arrested Serrano after the incident. He was booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of attempted murder, arson causing great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon not involving a firearm, mayhem, multiple counts of violation of probation, and his warrants.

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At least three witnesses have since come forward, saying they heard a man and woman involved in a loud argument before the woman was set on fire.

However, because Serrano threatened to kill anyone who spoke with authorities, SCNS has elected not to release any of the witnesses names for their own protection.

“The guy was yelling at the girl, and then he grabbed whatever he had in this container and dumped it on her and used a lighter and lit her on fire,” a Redding woman told Record Searchlight after the incident and arrest. He then “grabbed his bag and took off toward the library saying that if anyone called the cops we were dead.”

Another woman familiar with the incident later posted pictures of the alleged suspect, writing online, “This is the piece of shit that did that to my friend.” Although SCNS initially chose not to post his photos pending confirmation, officials have since released Serrano’s photo.

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Another witness, who said she is from Anderson but has been homeless and living in Redding for the last two months and asked to remain anonymous, has since told SCNS she was “hanging out with friends” in the park between the City Hall and Shasta Pubic Library when she heard people “shouting and arguing”, followed by a woman “screaming in agony and yelling for help.”

“We ran over to see what was happening just as the cops and firefighters started arriving,” explained the witness; saying the incident “was just horrific.”

“What in the hell is this world coming to? Nobody should ever be treated so cruelly,” the woman said.

“I will never be able to get those images out of my head,” the witness continued; adding, “That guy is awful, he’s a demon, and I hope he burns in hell for what he did,”

Jail records indicate Serrano remains in custody in lieu of $502,000.

Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Redding PD at (530) 225-4200. Callers can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Trevor Montgomery, 49, 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 30 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 18 grandchildren.