Fresno Fire Chief Arrested for Threatening to Kill Family Members

FRESNO – Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Fresno Fire Chief James Brown Wednesday night for allegedly threatening to kill family members.

James Brown

Deputies were sent to Brown’s home in the 7500 block of Spyglass Avenues around 9 p.m. based on a 911 call about domestic violence. Deputies were told that Brown had assaulted family members and was acting violently. A family member attempted to intervene in Brown’s assault on an unnamed family member and pepper sprayed Brown more than once.

When they arrived on the scene, deputies found Brown standing in his front yard, visibly intoxicated. Initially, Brown did not cooperate with deputies, but they were eventually able to get him handcuffed.

Brown, 50, was booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of Felony Domestic Violence and Making Criminal Threats. He posted a $50,000 bond and was released from the next morning around 6:30 a.m.

Brown could be facing up to four years in prison and a fine of $6,000 for the corporal injury to a spouse charge. He could also face prison time for making criminal threats.

The city placed Brown on administrative leave pending an investigation. Since 2012, Brown has been the county’s fire chief. His wife, Beth Brown, also works for the city as its’ emergency manager.

Before coming to Fresno, James Brown was county fire chief in Stafford County, VA.

Read More:

1)Fox 26-  Fresno’s Fire Chief Arrested on Domestic Battery Charges

2) CBS 47- Fresno Fire Chief Arrested for Domestic Violence