Suspect sets fire to alleged victim's residence while young children are in the home

On 12-29-2017 at approximately 3:45 p.m., Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies received a radio call for service for a burglary in progress with gunshots fired at a property in the 27000 block of Albion Ridge Road in Albion, California.

While responding, Deputies received updated information via radio that a structure was on fire and the suspect was an adult white male still at the location.

On arrival, Deputies performed a protective sweep of the property.  During that sweep, Deputies observed a structure engulfed by fire and were contacted by a resident who alerted Deputies to the location of an injured person.

With assistance of California State Parks Rangers, Deputies contacted a 73 year-old injured male inside a residence near to the fire and carried him to safety, where he received immediate medical attention.  The 73 year-old male was later transported by air ambulance for further medical treatment.  Mendocino and Albion Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the scene and extinguished the structure fire.

Deputies initiated an investigation into the incident and would learn the 73 year-old male sustained major injury to his head as a result of being struck with a blunt object.  Deputies located the suspect, Abel Sommer, within another residence on the property and took him into custody.

Deputies determined Sommer was responsible for setting fire to the structure and causing other damage to resident's vehicles on the property and had his 14 year-old and 4 year-old children present in his custody during the commission of those crimes.

After transporting Sommer to the Mendocino Coast Hospital for medical related reasons, he broke free from his restraints and fled in an attempt to escape.  With the assistance of the Fort Bragg Police Department, Deputies located the Sommer minutes later after he broke out a window in an attempt to leave the hospital.

Sommer, who was also on active summary probation, was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked on the listed charges and was to be held in lieu of $100,000.00 bail.