Red Bluff Daily News
CORNING, Calif. — A man was arrested Wednesday night after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at police.
Corning Police Department officers investigated a loud banging noise coming from outside their station, according to a press release issued Thursday by CPD.
An officer attempted to contact Cassidy Russ, 32, of Corning, who was walking away from the police department onto Solano Street.
Russ was fumbling with an item near the front of his waistband as he was walking away, ignoring officers, the release said.
Another officer in a patrol car stopped on the 700 block of Fourth Street and reportedly gave Russ verbal commands. Police say that’s when Russ lit what was later determined to be a Molotov cocktail and threw it toward the officer.
The projectile missed the officer and exploded near a parked vehicle. Russ fled on foot westbound on Solano Street.
Officers pursued Russ on foot and in a patrol car. An off-duty officer reportedly tackled Russ on the 1300 block of Solano Street.
Russ resisted arrest by concealing his hands by his waistband and backpack. He continued to resist arrest during baton strikes and pain compliance techniques. Officers eventually took Russ into custody by placing him in handcuffs under sustained resistance.
He was later transported and booked into the Tehama County Jail for attempted murder, possession of an explosive device, arson, battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest. Bail was set at $1 million.
A local business owner had to move a parked vehicle where the explosion occurred, which resulted in a fire. He extinguished the fire.
Previous to this incident, Russ was the suspect in a separate incident on July 26, 2022, concerning him throwing a Molotov cocktail near the Corning Police Department near a staging area for marked patrol vehicles.
Russ had an active arrest warrant from that incident when he was arrested on this day.
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