A 29-year-old parolee suspected of igniting fires in trash dumpsters, as well as starting another one in a dry creek bed, then turning physical when Menifee police officers detained him, was being held without bail Friday.
Jordan Taykeion was arrested and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta Thursday on suspicion of resisting arrest, parole violations and arson.
According to the Menifee Police Department, shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, Taykeion allegedly began walking behind businesses in the Menifee Countryside Marketplace south of Newport Road and west of Interstate 215, setting fires in trash receptacles.
The suspect additionally allegedly ignited a blaze in the Paloma Wash adjacent to the freeway, causing an acre-wide brush fire, authorities said.
“Reporting parties were able to describe an individual they witnessed … with a lighter in his hand before the second fire began,” police spokesman Chase Coburn said.
Patrol officers converged on the location as Riverside County Fire Department crews deployed to the blazes, extinguishing all of the dumpster fires before 2 p.m.
When an officer attempted to detain Taykeion, he fought the lawman, who ultimately took the suspect into custody with assistance, according to Coburn.
“No officers were injured,” he said.
The fire in the wash was completely contained by 3 p.m. Thursday. No structures were damaged.
Cal Fire arson investigators were coordinating with Menifee police in determining what potential charges to seek before the case is submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
Background information on Taykeion was unavailable.