An 18-year-old man accused of going on a vandalism rampage and igniting a fire in his family’s Riverside home was charged Wednesday with arson and other offenses.
Jovany Joe Lopez Corona was arrested about 11:40 p.m. Sunday after a confrontation with Riverside police in the 10900 block of Campbell Avenue, near Mitchell Avenue, on the west end of the city.
Along with the arson count, Corona is charged with vandalism and resisting arrest.
He’s being held in lieu of $55,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside and is slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback, officers were called to the single-story home to investigate a “family disturbance” and encountered Corona in the middle of a “mental health crisis,” allegedly destroying property and refusing to listen to his parents and other occupants.
After learning the defendant might be in possession of one or more guns, officers evacuated the property and set up a perimeter, then attempted to convince Corona to surrender, according to Railsback.
“The subject was seen striking himself with a hammer and would not communicate with the officers,” Railsback said. “He smashed several windows with the hammer and then lit the house on fire. As the fire started to close in on him, the man came out of the house, yelling at officers and making threatening movements. Officers deployed a Taser, which allowed them to effectively and safely apprehend the distraught man.”
Riverside Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeff DeLaurie said three engine crews, numbering just over a dozen firefighters, were cleared by police to enter the home and knock down the blaze moments after Corona was taken into custody.
He said the fire was fully contained in 20 minutes and did not spread beyond the defendant’s bedroom.
According to DeLaurie, a total of 14 people — two families — reside at the location. No one was injured.
Corona was treated for minor injuries and booked into jail.
No guns were seized at the house.
The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.
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