A Sonoma County transient was arrested yesterday at the scene of the Bohan Dillon Rd fire in the Fort Ross area. A Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to Bohan Dillon Rd and Fort Ross Rd to assist Cal-Fire with a small vegetation fire at about 2:30 PM yesterday. Once the deputy was on scene he received two reports of a man acting strange in the area who was unknown to the longtime residents of the area.
The deputy contacted 28-year-old transient David Swanson who had been picked up by a local winery worker and brought to the fire scene in the back of his work truck. The winery worker had picked him up on the side of the road and stated Swanson appeared to be “tweaking,” acting strange and not making any sense.
According to the deputy, Swanson appeared to be under the influence of drugs. He was not making rational statements, had no explanation of what he was doing in the area and was essentially unresponsive to any questions. A check with court records indicated Swanson was on probation from a previous theft case with terms to be of good conduct and submit himself to warrantless search and seizure.
The deputy detained Swanson, who was wearing an orange Marmot backpack. Upon a search the deputy found Cliff bars, three blankets, matches and lighters which may have been used to start the vegetation fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Cal-Fire.
Swanson was placed under arrest for public intoxication and a probation violation. During the arrest process Swanson spit on the deputy who was able to get him into handcuffs and placed in the back of his patrol car after a small struggle.
Swanson was booked on charges of public intoxication, violation of probation and battery on a peace officer.
At about 7:40 PM deputies received a call from a woman who lives in the 28500 block of Bohan Dillon Rd who reported a burglary to her home. She came home at about 6:30 PM and found her house was ransacked with all the cupboards left open. Missing were Cliff Bars, an orange Marmot backpack and two blankets.
Additional charges of residential burglary are also being sought against Swanson who remains in custody on $6,000 bail. Investigators from Cal-Fire are conducting an investigation into his role in possibly starting the fire, which has not been determined at this time.
