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REGIONAL: Sonoma County officials apprehend arson suspect in Calistoga Road fire
NORTH COAST, Calif. – For the second time this month, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has taken an arson suspect into custody.
The agency said that Jordan Waugh, 23, of Oakland was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of having set a fire off Calistoga Road.
Just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies and the sheriff’s helicopter “Henry-1” were summoned to assist Cal Fire crews who were working to extinguish a brush fire in the Plum Ranch area, the agency reported.
Cal Fire personnel requested the sheriff’s deputies and Henry-1 because they believed the fire was started by an arsonist who was still on scene, the sheriff’s office said.
Firefighters who deployed from Cal Fire Copter 104 and engine personnel were on the ground when they encountered a potential arson suspect seated in the area of the fire, officials reported.
The male suspect, identified as Waugh, was sitting in the immediate area of the fire and refused to communicate with the fire crews, the sheriff’s office reported. As more firefighting aircraft arrived in the area, the suspect stood up and partially disrobed as he walked away from the converging firefighters.
The fire crews followed Waugh and radioed his description and direction of travel to the Henry-1 flight crew members, who located Waugh shortly after arriving on scene, officials said.
Due to the rugged terrain, Pilot Paul Bradley conducted a "toe in" or partial landing to allow Henri Boustany, the deputy/tactical flight officer, to safely exit the aircraft. The agency said that Boustany, once out of the aircraft, encountered Waugh – who was somewhat despondent but cooperative – and took him into custody.
After evaluating the safest exit out of the rugged terrain, it was determined that Waugh would be evacuated with the flight crew, via long line, to waiting sheriff’s deputies, officials reported.
Waugh was safely secured into a traverse stretcher, so his feet and arms were restrained and Boustany and Paramedic Don Ricci accompanied the suspect on the end of long line. The sheriff’s office said Bradley then flew the restrained suspect and flight crew to awaiting sheriff’s deputies.
Officials said Waugh was transported by sheriff’s deputies from the scene to the Sonoma County Jail where he was booked for arson, with the potential to cause great bodily harm, which is a felony. His bail was set at $125,000.
On Sept. 1, sheriff’s deputies arrested James Novak, 28, of Cloverdale on suspicion of setting a number of fires around Sonoma County, including one that burned near Healdsburg, as Lake County News has reported.