Redding police officers arrested a transient on the Sacramento River trail after he allegedly started a fire and then brandished a knife and a large wooden staff at first responders.
The incident started shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday when SHASCOM received a 9-1-1 call reporting smoke coming from underneath the Owen "Ted" Lyons' Memorial Bridge on Market Street.
Redding firefighters responded and found the fire under the north side of the bridge, next to the River Trail. Firefighters also found Michael Hammond, 50, transient, armed with a fixed blade knife and a large 6.5-foot wooden staff near the fire.