Man High on Meth Howls at Moon, Throws Roof Tiles at Police Officers

A Fremont man was arrested early Monday morning after leading Fremont and Union City police in a pursuit that lasted several hours and ended on the rooftop of an unoccupied two-story home.

Police said it took more than four hours and the use of non-lethal weapons to convince Daniel Baughman, 35, to come down from a rooftop on the 32700 block of Hanford Court in Union City.

According to Lt. Ben Horner of the Union City Police Department, Baughman was on a three-day methamphetamine binge and was taking off his clothes, howling at the moon and throwing large roof tiles at police officers.

Baughman's episode of street carnage began late Sunday night in Fremont where he was spotted running through the streets, shouting and disturbing residents. Fremont police gave chase but he managed to evade them near the Fremont-Union City border, Horner said.

Hanford Court residents later reported a man trespassing in the neighborhood and climbing on top of the home at about 1:20 a.m. Monday morning.

Fremont police also heard the call and assisted Union City officers, Horner said.

“The officers were pretty resourceful,” Horner said of their use of non-lethal force. "No citizens were hurt, no officers were hurt and this guy wasn't hurt."

Because it would be dangerous for officers to try to subdue Baughman on the roof, officers fired wooden rounds at him, but he appeared unfazed, Horner said.

Officers then used a nearby crane that was parked in front of a home to get closer to Baughman where an officer fired tear gas-like pepperball rounds to incapacitate him.

Baughman eventually came down from the roof around 4 a.m. using a ladder placed by police, Horner said.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and burglary, among other charges, and was transported to a nearby hospital for a mental evaluation, Horner said.