A 27-year-old man was arrested Thursday after threatening police officers with a metal pipe and attempting to start a fire in a North Visalia yard, authorities said.

Just after 1:20 p.m., Visalia Police officers responded to the 2000 block of North Burke Street following reports of a man stealing lawn ornaments and swinging a metal pipe, the department said.

Officers found Gregorio Juan Julian holding the pipe and refusing multiple commands to drop it.

A Taser deployed by officers failed to subdue Julian, who then fought with officers before attempting to flee.

He was taken into custody a short distance away. During the investigation, officers discovered Julian had poured lighter fluid in the front yard in an apparent attempt to start a fire.

Julian was transported to Kaweah for medical clearance and later booked on charges including resisting an executive officer, vandalism, and attempted arson, Visalia police said.

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