(Photo: Fresno Fire)
UPDATE 1/26/2017: The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against Richard Garcia related to Tuesday’s house fire near Dakota and West Avenues. 59-year-old Garcia was charged with felony arson and two counts felony assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently in custody at the Fresno County Jail. Garcia is scheduled for arraignment in Fresno County Superior Court on Friday, January 27, 2017. He faces a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison if convicted of the charges.
FRESNO, CA (KMJ ) – A 58 year old man is in custody, accused of starting a house fire and assaulting relatives in Northwest Fresno.
Flames and substantial smoke filled the sky from the blaze on the 1100 block of W. Lansing Way, near Dakota and West.
(Photo: Fresno Police)
Fresno Police says Richard Garcia had asked his brother-in-law for a cigarette, thought it wasn’t good enough and then attacked his him and his own sister with a crow bar. He then allegedly attacked them with a hammer and chased them with a knife – until the victims ran from the home. That’s when Garcia allegedly started the blaze. The two victims were hit with the crow bar.
Garcia suffered minor burns in the incident. He will be evaluated, and then charged with assault with a deadly weapon and arson.
(Photo: Fresno Police)
