Man arrested, suspected of attacking Ocean Beach fire station and breaking window
Firefighters called for cover after awaking to a man screaming obscenities and banging on windows at Fire Station 15 on Voltaire Street.
San Diego firefighters in Ocean Beach were awakened by a man pounding on the windows of their fire station, screaming obscenities and attacking a tree, officials said.
The incident began around 6:15 a.m. June 17 at Station 15 on Voltaire Street when firefighters heard someone yelling and trying to break into the station, fire officials said.
Police were called and the man was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism, according to a police spokesman.
The firefighters, who had waited inside the station, emerged to find a fire burning at a house a short distance away on Ebers Street near Long Branch Avenue. They went to the home — where the man lives — and extinguished a kitchen fire, San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Kerry-Shannon Grieser told OnScene.TV.
Grieser said firefighters put out a “cover now” call to police when they realized someone was attacking the station. Video from the scene showed police taking a shirtless man into custody. He had blood on his head and face.
“He did a number on our banana tree and hit several of the windows, thankfully only breaking one,” the battalion chief said. “But he was really out of control and acting out of sorts. It was very concerning for the firefighters who were just getting up from their shift.”
When firefighters went outside, they saw smoke coming from a residence about a block and a half down the road.
A fire on a stove was found inside the home. Grieser said it was unclear whether it was ignited by unattended food or was intentionally set.
A dog found at the home was turned over to the San Diego Humane Society, Grieser added.
