A 28-year-old man allegedly vandalized his grandmother's car with a guitar, barricaded himself inside her Hercules home, and then set a fire inside the residence before officers forced their way in, tased him, and pulled him to safety, according to police. The chaotic scene unfolded on Sunday in the 200 block of Pepperwood, ending with the man booked on multiple felony charges and no one seriously hurt.
Hercules Police Officers responded to the residence Sunday morning after a report that Drew McCarthy was vandalizing his grandmother's vehicle with a guitar, according to contracosta.news. Officers found the elderly homeowner in the front yard and quickly escorted her to safety as McCarthy barricaded himself inside, the outlet reported. He then threatened to destroy the home, and as the situation escalated, officers worked to open a line of communication with him by phone in an effort to talk him down peacefully.
Fire Breaks Out Mid-Standoff
The attempt at a peaceful resolution unraveled when a fire erupted inside the residence. Officers forced entry as the home filled with fire and smoke, searching room by room until they found McCarthy behind the growing flames, where he was threatening to harm himself and refused officers' pleas to let them help him, per the same account.
With the fire spreading rapidly, one officer deployed a Taser while another worked to extinguish the flames. McCarthy was then taken into custody safely and transported to the Contra Costa County Medical Center in Martinez for a precautionary medical evaluation, the report notes. A Hercules Police Department officer's body-worn camera captured the chaotic incident on video, according to kron4.com.
Multiple Felony Charges, Prior Probation
After being medically cleared, McCarthy was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on multiple felony counts including arson, vandalism, elder abuse, resisting arrest, and probation violation, the article states. Police said he was already on active felony probation in Contra Costa County for evasion at the time of the incident.
Under California's arson statute, a person is guilty of the crime when they “willfully and maliciously” set fire to or burn, or cause to be burned, any structure, forest land, or property, according to California Legislative Information. The Contra Costa County Fire District ultimately determined the home was safe, and the homeowner was able to return once that assessment was complete.
Police Credit Officers' Composure
In a Community Update posted to Facebook, the Hercules Police Department said officers relied on their training and experience, demonstrating patience, composure, and decisiveness throughout the encounter. The department said that, ultimately, they were able to bring the situation to a safe conclusion where no one was seriously injured.
