Cloverdale teen arrested, charged with starting hillside fire

A 14-year-old Cloverdale teen was arrested this week and charged with a felony for “recklessly” igniting a fire on a wooded hillside at about 5:15 a.m. Monday, according to Cloverdale Police Chief Stephen Cramer.

The unusual arrest came after reports that the teen and his 10-year-old friend were out “running down the street” at 1:30 a.m. Monday and when approached by police, the two ran. Police detained the younger boy and took him home, Cramer said. The 14-year-old ran away and camped in a rural area where he started a fire a few hours later, at 5:15 a.m., near Hot Springs Road and Foothill Boulevard, to keep warm.

After the teen started the fire, he returned home, where police later arrested him, Cramer said.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire.

The teen was charged with felony reckless burning of property, misdemeanor resisting arrest and cited for violating curfew.

Curfew for people 16 and younger is 10 p.m.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.