On Friday, a California man viciously terrorized the Redwood City community, damaging property and putting people at risk with his actions, in addition to charges of elder abuse against his own parents. Jason Holden, a 26-year-old resident of Redwood City, was arrested by the Redwood City Police Department (RCPD) on November 9th after he set fire to a backyard and attempted to barricade himself in a home - his own parents', it so happens, according to the RCPD.

Holden, who effectively seized his parents' residence, had been causing havoc in the community for a while now. His array of crimes ranged from substantial property damage, including over $30,000 in damages to his parents' home and vandalization of a neighbor's vehicle, to defiance against law enforcement attempts to apprehend him.

The police force intended to serve an arrest warrant alongside conducting a search of Holden's premises on the morning of November 10th, but those plans abruptly changed. Suspecting escalation in Holden's erratic behavior after he kindled a substantial fire in his parents' backyard, the very evening before the planned arrest, local law enforcement decided to act immediately. The Redwood City Fire Department was dispatched to quell the flames, a development that only added to the rising chaos.

Despite the situation, Holden remained advasarial, refusing to leave the embattled residence and trying to fortify his position inside. The SWAT team resorted to using a 40MM less lethal weapon and a police canine to effectively apprehend him.

After receiving necessary medical clearance, Holden was booked into the San Mateo County Jail. His criminal charges include felony elder abuse, felony vandalism, and felony eluding and resisting arrest. The fear and apprehension once gripping the community have temporarily abated, but the damage left in the wake of Holden's crime spree will likely linger.