Vandalism and Arson Spark Hours-Long Standoff in Paso Robles; Suspect Arrested

Paso Robles Police Department arrested a 55-year-old man on December 9, 2025, after an hours-long standoff at a multi-family residence, police said in a statement.

Shortly after midnight, downstairs tenants at a multi-family residence in the 1400 block of Vine Street called 9-1-1 to report that an upstairs tenant was breaking windows, yelling, and flooding the building, according to the statement.

Officers arrived at the scene and tried to contact the tenant, who was identified as Michael Mogge of Paso Robles.

The police and a crisis negotiator made repeated attempts to contact Mogge, but he refused to respond.

Fire Set on Upstairs Balcony

Instead of cooperating with the authorities, Mogge threw items out of the windows, broke more windows, and started a small fire on an upstairs balcony, according to the statement.

The fire eventually burned out on its own.

Officers secured the area and maintained watch until around 9:30 a.m., when Mogge began throwing items from his window.

He refused to come down and communicate with the police, family members, or mental health specialists, and continued to vandalize the unit despite several attempts to speak with him, police said.

Police Deploy Chemical Agents and Diversion Devices

Detectives secured an arrest and search warrant for Mogge. The police used chemical agents and diversionary devices to get him to surrender, but he continued to refuse, according to the statement.

Flashbangs, which create loud noise and bright light to distract a subject, are commonly used by law enforcement during high-risk entries, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

At around 1 p.m., officers managed to enter Mogge’s residence through an upstairs balcony, with help from the Paso Robles Fire Department.

Mogge fled the scene by jumping from the roof and ended up injuring himself.

Multiple Felony Charges Filed

Police took him into custody pursuant to the arrest warrant.

After being treated at a local hospital, Mogge was booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of felony vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)), arson (PC 451), and resisting a police officer with violence (PC 69), police said.

The police did not add further information on any injuries or damages.