Arrest made after man allegedly barricaded himself, set fire to home

Staff reports

DURHAM » A man was arrested in Durham late Monday evening after a two and a half hour standoff with deputies.

A call was transferred to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office at about 10:30 p.m. Monday with information about a fight between the caller and his son at an apartment complex located at the 2100 block of Durham-Dayton Highway.

Deputies arrived at the scene and identified James Sprinklejones, 35, of Durham as the caller’s son who allegedly set fire to a curtain inside the unit before barricading himself inside with a knife, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the Sheriff’s Office.

His father was able to put the fire out before help was needed.

The deputies at the scene used a public address system to communicate with Sprinklejones to try and get him to leave the apartment.

Neighboring apartments were evacuated while deputies attempted to contact Sprinklejones, the release said.

“During the incident, Sprinklejones appeared highly agitated and made additional threatening and suicidal statements,” the release said.

At roughly 1 a.m., a second fire was lit inside the apartment and the Sheriff’s Office says Sprinklejones proceeded to leave out of the front door and was subsequently arrested by deputies.

Firefighters with Cal Fire-Butte County were at the scene and extinguished the second fire.

There were two dogs located inside of the apartment and both were recovered without injury. An unsecured gun was also discovered in the home.

Sprinklejones was taken to a hospital for evaluation and will be arrested and transported to the Butte County Jail on suspicion of arson, criminal threats, animal cruelty/neglect and possessing a fire arm while prohibited, the Sheriff’s Office said.