A Richardson Bay mariner accused of attacking authorities was arrested after a four-hour standoff, the Marin County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned.
Paul Ray Smith Jr., 53, was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of assault with a lethal weapon on officers, assault with a firearm, obstructing officers and cruelty to an animal.
Smith remained in custody Monday in lieu of $305,000 bail.
Topic arrested after standoff in Richardson Bay.
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The standoff occurred Friday after authorities notified Smith about warrants for his arrest for 2 prior incidents, Marin County sheriff’s Sgt. Brenton Schneider mentioned.
The primary incident occurred on March 18 whereas Curtis Havel, the Richardson’s Bay Regional Company harbormaster, was towing a ship to the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers yard. Smith allegedly adopted Havel and fired a flare gun in his path. The flare missed.
The second incident occurred on March 23 when deputies went to Smith’s boat to interview him in regards to the flare gun allegation. Smith turned argumentative, retreated to the cabin of his boat and returned with a pistol, Schneider mentioned.
When deputies ordered him to drop his gun, Smith went again to the cabin and allegedly pointed the pistol out the window on the deputies and their patrol boat.
The deputies left and began surveillance on Smith to contact him when he went to shore, Schneider mentioned. Smith didn’t go, and deputies obtained search and arrest warrants.
When negotiators contacted Smith on Friday, Smith mentioned he had a bulletproof vest and refused to give up. The standoff ensued.
Deputies tried to enter the boat via the hatch, setting off a booby lure that created a small explosion, Schneider mentioned. Deputies additionally found a protracted sword-like weapon on the backside of the hatch set as much as impale intruders, Schneider mentioned.
Authorities used flash grenades, tear gasoline and pepper spray to distract Smith. Deputies additionally fired 5 bean bag rounds, three of which struck the suspect. Smith allegedly tried to stab deputies with a spear-like machine that had two steel spikes affixed to a pole.
Deputies towed Smith’s boat to the Clipper Yacht Harbor, subdued Smith with a Taser and arrested him.
The boat caught hearth and a canine on board died. The reason for the hearth is unknown, however Smith instructed the proprietor of the vessel that he was going to pile up flammable gadgets to mild on hearth, Schneider mentioned.
Havel declined to remark as a result of pending investigation.
Mill Valley Councilman Jim Wickham, a board member for the Richardson Bay company, declined to remark, deferring inquiries to the sheriff’s workplace.
The battle was the third arrest in current weeks as authorities proceed their marketing campaign to take away derelict boats and marine particles from Richardson Bay. On March 23, a mariner was arrested on allegations he tried to dam harbor authorities from seizing a ship. On March 25, an activist was arrested on a houseboat that was illegally taken from the particles yard after being faraway from the bay, police mentioned.
