Man Tries To Runs Over Firefighter, Leads Cops On Chase: SRPD

SANTA ROSA, CA — A Santa Rosa man was arrested Tuesday night following a bizarre sequence of events that allegedly included trying to run over a firefighter with his Mercedes, leading officers on a chase and starting a fire inside a home, according to a Santa Rosa Police Department news release.

The chain of events that eventually led to the arrest of 52-year-old Troy Jordan began at about 11 p.m. when officers were called to a hotel in the 1800 block of Mendocino Avenue to assist medical personnel with a combative person, SRPD Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said in the news release.

At the scene, officers were informed that after attempting to run over a firefighter, the person, later identified as Jordan, drove northbound in a silver Mercedes, Mahurin said.

The sergeant said two officers, with their lights and sirens activated, pursued Jordan northbound on Mendocino but he refused to stop, instead leading officers eastbound on Lewis Road before turning onto Crest Drive where he accelerated to speeds over 65 mph and went through several stop signs without stopping.

Jordan then pulled into a driveway in the 900 block of Crest, where he "jumped out of the Mercedes and refused to comply with officer’s directions to get on the ground," Mahurin said.

"Jordan was yelling at officers to 'shoot me,' but officers maintained their composure and continued to give Jordan clear directions," Mahurin said.

"Ultimately, Jordan was placed under arrest without further incident, but he threatened to kill several officers."

Once Jordan was detained, Mahurin said officers noticed smoke billowing from the open front door of the residence.

Several officers went into the home to look for potential fire victims and conduct evacuations but found no one inside.

Mahurin said they did find a small fire in the main hallway of the home, at which point they called the Santa Rosa Fire Department.

Jordan was ultimately booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, threatening/resisting an officer, causing a fire of structure and evading a police officer/vehicle pursuit, according to Mahurin.

Although the Santa Rosa Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire, Mahurin said police believe Jordan caused the fire, then went to approach officers at the hotel.

Jail records Wednesday morning showed Jordan was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail, with a court appearance set for Thursday morning.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Booking photo courtesy Santa Rosa Police Department