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Sebastopol, CA Police Department
Thursday April 28th, 2016 :: 08:28 a.m. PDT

Advisory

Wanted felon arrested for arson.

PRESS RELEASE

Date/Time of Incident: 04-27-16, 10:48 pm

Location: Downtown Sebastopol

Crime:
- Attempted Arson of Inhabited Building
- Vandalism
- Resist Law Enforcement with Force, Causing Injury
- Obstruct, Resist, Delay Law Enforcement Officer
- False Identity to Law Enforcement Officer
- Outstanding Felony Warrant from San Diego County

Contact: Acting Chief of Police James Conner, 707-829-4400

Summary:
On Wednesday, 04-27-16, at approximately 7:59 pm, Officers were dispatched to the lobby of the Sebastopol Police Department to assist a female requesting assistance with her ex-boyfriend, later identified as Corey Holston, age 25, from Oakland. The female reported Holston was currently at her apartment destroying her property.

Officers responded to the apartment on Murphy Avenue with the female, but Holston was gone. Multiple witnesses reported Holston left moments prior to police arrival. Officers noticed smoke was inside the apartment and contacted the Sebastopol Fire Department. The Fire Department and officers determined there was no active fire in the apartment. The smoke was later determined to be coming from a basket of tea bags that had been set on fire inside the apartment.

In addition to the basket that had been set on fire, the apartment was completely destroyed. Every room had clothes, cat litter, food, and miscellaneous other items on the floor, shoved in the sink and toilet. Many valuable items were broken as well.

The officers arranged for a safe location for the female to sleep, as she was frightened that Holston would come back and harm her or her daughter.

Officers were informed to be-on-the-lookout for Holston, as he was known to frequent bars in the downtown area of Sebastopol.
At 10:23 pm, the investigating officer in this case drove by Jasper O’farrell’s Pub, located 6957 Sebastopol Avenue. The officer saw Holston standing on the sidewalk in front of the pub. The officer contacted Holston, and detained him. Holston was questioned regarding the vandalism and attempted arson. During questioning, Holston provided a false identity. At the conclusion of the interview with Holston, the officer told Holston he was being placed under arrest. When the officer, and a back-up officer, attempted to place handcuffs on Holston, he tried to flee.

The officers grabbed Holston before he could get away. They ordered him to place his hands behind his back, and he refused. The officers then attempted to force Holston onto the ground against his violent resistance. Holston reached his hands toward his waistband as he was forced on the ground. The officers tried to pull Holston’s hands from his waistband and place them behind his back, but were unable to against his resistance. Fearing Holston might be reaching for weapon in his waistband, one of the officer’s deployed his Taser. This was not effective due to the thick jacket Holston was wearing.

The officers continued to struggle with Holston, who continued to reach toward his waistband and continually resisted the officer’s efforts to force him on the ground. One officer used his expandable baton and struck Holston in the legs. This appeared to have no effect on Holston, who continued to violently resist and reach his hands towards his waistband.

After approximately 4 minutes of struggling with Holston, a third officer arrived to assist. The third officer deployed his Taser which was effective. Holston was finally handcuffed. He continued to resist, even while handcuffed, and was placed in a hobble restraint.

Holston was transported to the Sonoma West Medical Center as a precaution. While at the hospital, officers discovered Holston’s true identity. He had an outstanding felony, No Bail, warrant for assault with a deadly weapon out of San Diego County. According to the warrant, Holston was to be considered “armed and dangerous”. Holston was medically cleared for booking, and was then transported and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility.

Two of the officers involved in the struggle sustained minor injuries, including scrapes and cuts to their arms and legs.

Address/Location
Sebastopol, CA Police Department
6850 Laguna Park Way
Sebastopol, CA 95472

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 707-829-4400

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