(KMJ) – A Fresno man barges into a northwest Fresno engineering office and threatens workers with a sharp object. He then barricaded himself inside the building and started lighting small fires.
Fresno Police said this all happened around 6 p.m. Tuesday. Officers say all of the workers inside Cornerstone Structural Engineering Group on Alluvial Avenue near Palm got out safely before the man shut himself inside.
The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Michael Rankin, who is also on AB 109 Fresno County Probation for auto theft.
Fresno Police say Rankin barged into the building, barricaded himself in an upstairs office, refused to negotiate with officers and began lighting fires and breaking windows. At one point, Officers say he appeared poised to jump from a second-story window but then retreated.
When officers entered the building about 9:40 p.m., they found him passed out from smoke inhalation. Rankin was reportedly in stable condition at Community Regional Medical Center but refused to talk with investigators.
Once Rankin is released from the hospital, he will be booked into Fresno County Jail for arson, criminal threats, resisting/obstructing/delaying an officer, and for a probation violation.
