3 Acre Brush Fire In Monrovia Canyon Under Control Thanks to Quick Work by Firefighters – One Man Arrested for ADW in Confusion of Road Closures
By Terry Miller
Published: Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Firefighters have contained a small brush fire burning in Monrovia Canyon Park approximately 2:40. Full containment is expected later this afternoon. No structures are threatened and no evacuations have been ordered.
The fire was apparently set off by a downed power line. A major Fire Department response put dozens of firefighters and 40 pieces of equipment on the scene.
Photos by Terry Miller
In the confusion of the road closures , one driver was arrested at gunpoint by Monrovia PD when he refused to stop his vehicle. At one point an Edison worker attempted to stop the vehicle by standing in front of the car. The driver proceeded to put his foot on the gas and the Edison employee was literally holding on to the hood as the driver attempted to continue.
Monrovia police ran to the window of the driver and order him out at gunpoint.
He was arrested and transported to Monrovia PD for booking on numerous charges. Donald Skelton, who is in his 70′s is charged with two counts of ADW ( Assault with a Deadly Weapon) as he hit two people. One Souther California Edison worker who attempted to help the police stop the vehicle, and a Capt. in the National Forest Service.
More Fire Images:
Photos by Terry Miller
15 Responses for “3 Acre Brush Fire In Monrovia Canyon Under Control Thanks to Quick Work by Firefighters – One Man Arrested for ADW in Confusion of Road Closures”
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Great shots Terry!
Thank you fire fighters!
Awesome pictures and reporting, Terry. thank you!
Wow – what was up with that guy? Dumb ass.
Great photos of today’s brush fire up in Monrovia Canyon Park (MCP). I’m a MCP Volunteer and was up there below the park assisting a parking control officer with traffic control.
Oops, sorry. Click on my name above to view my “Unofficial” MCP website
Another job well done by our firefighters and county “air force”. When I see smoke I always pray that’s it’s a local response and not the ANF.
Terry Miller’s photos give a very nice picture of what went on…especially the arrest. I can understand how this poor guy was feeling. Being kept from your home when there’s a fire is terrifying. When you’re young you can park down below and walk up. When you’re not young anymore, you ignore the roadblock (which my father’s done a couple times) but I’ve never heard of anyone being arrested for doing it. I hope the legal system treats him mercifully.
The gentleman in question is being charged with 2 counts of ADW- Vehicular assualt, he injured two people – an Edison worker and a National Forest Capt. when he refused to obey police officers’ repeated orders to stop! It was then that the officers arrested him at gunpoint. Thanks for you comments
Editor
I posted before the news came out that he’d actually hit someone. And I’d never condone anyone hitting another person with their car no matter what the reason. The relationship between authorities and residents in the “new” Monrovia is a lot different than what some of us “oldies” are used to. It’s getting to be more “L.A.” and less “Mayberry”. Call me old fashioned but I still give a wave to the officers who drive by my home.
Sorry Ellen, the authorities were just trying to do their job and no houses were in immediate danger. I was up there as an MCP Volunteer assisting with traffic control and this guy zoomed by me ignoring my signals for him to stop. We were explaining to people that the FD and Police didn’t want anyone driving up Ridgside or Oakdale until they knew the fire was secure and the downed power line that caused the fire was repaired.
All this idiot had to do was just stop and listen to authorities but instead, he put people’s lives (including mine) in danger. I understand his concerns but have no sympathy for his actions.
Terry,
My brother was the Capt. Fire Fighter that was hit first by the driver.
He has asked me to communicate to you and inquire if it is possible to get access to the pictures that you took. He is under the impression that a number of pictures were taken. Would love to hear back from you.
Paul…I only have a couple(of pictures) of the officers arresting the suspect and the guns drawn…Nothing else. Perhaps someone else may have some. It all happened so quickly. Feel free to call my office and I’ll explain.
Terry
Something doesn’t smell right. City of Monrovia claims while the fire is still burning that downed power lines caused the fire. Kind of a premature statement to make. Why ?
Southern California Edison denies that downed power line caused fire.
No down power lines seen where fire was ignited by many witnesses.
L.A. County investigators seen snooping around the site of the fire Friday afternoon. Why ?
Does the city of Monrovia even have any credibility any more considering the lies they have been caught telling the citizens of Monrovia ?
Are there some over paid members of the Monorovia city government who have a hidden agenda ?
this is my grandfather and he is a very gd man!!! all yu haters need to shut your damn mouth.. his huse was allmost burnt dwn and his cat was still up there in the house.. stop leaving such horrible coments.. i would like to what you would do if some power trip SCE lineman/worker what ever try to stop you when your house and cat are about to be burt and gone foreever.. my grandparents have worked there whle life fr that house so back off people.. get over it!!! and dont be a faker SCE man..
Love you Gramma and grampa Don.. My heart is with you
Thank you thank you thank you, fire fighters who put their health and lives at risk for the safety of others and who fight fires to salvage people’s property and mitigate the damage caused to our nation’s forests. As if suppressing fires and cooking in the heat wasn’t difficult enough — for minimum wage, no less.
The individual who was arrested needs to have his background extracted from the Internet by someone with “1337″ skills since it seems likely that he might have a known background.
Terry, email me, please.
Why weren’t people evacuated from their home?