Latest on the arson suspect arrest in Calexico
Dillon Fuhrman
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – An arson suspect was arrested over the weekend following a violent disturbance at a Walmart in Calexico.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Jesse Romero, entered the store Saturday and attempted to set store merchandise on fire.
“What we had been reported is that there was a subject causing a disturbance it was later found out that the subject that it was the subject we had previously contacted prior to this call,” said Armando Orozco, chief of police.
According to the Calexico Police Department (CPD), Romero, who is a registered arsonist, was previously removed from another business prior to the incident at Walmart.
Romero, according to CPD, initially confronted and stopped by a Walmart employee before officers arrived, but Romero assaulted the employee and tried to stop him from calling 911.
“The customer saw him trying to stop him and he proceeded to punch that customer… an associate got involved… he got the associate in a headlock,” said Orozco.
When officers arrived, CPD says Romero displayed “continued aggressive behavior and violently resisted arrest,” with additional units being requested as Romero fought with officers and “attempted to disarm one of them” by reaching for both their taser and firearm.
When they were cuffing him he actually broke loose and was swinging that handcuff freely … during the struggle he attempted to disarm one of the officers with his taser and firearm,” said Orozco.
Following this, CPD says officers successfully restrained Romero and placed him under arrest.
A medical team from the Calexico Fire Department, according to CPD, responded to treat Romero, who was then subsequently taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center for medical clearance before being booked into the Imperial County Jail.
Romero is facing multiple felony charges, which includes attempted arson, burglary, felony assault and felony resisting arrest, according to CPD.