San Diego, CA
Series Of Arson Fires Erupts In City Heights; Suspect Jailed
SAN DIEGO, CA — A series of nearly two dozen arson blazes damaged homes, vehicles and other property in City Heights Monday and left a suspected firebug under arrest.
At least 20 fires erupted in 10 locations within a radius about a mile wide in neighborhoods east of Interstate 805 and north of state Route 94 over a roughly hourlong period, beginning shortly before 3 a.m., according to the San Diego Police Department.
In addition to trash cans and commercial refuse bins, two homes, three cars and a trailer sustained damage from the blazes, said SDPD Sgt. Rick Pechin of the San Diego Metro Arson Strike Team.
Find out what’s happening in San Diegowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Shortly after 4 a.m., a witness flagged down patrol officers and directed them to the possible perpetrator, Pechin said.
Police found the suspect, 40-year-old Juana Marie Alford, near a pile of burning rubbish in the 4400 block of Redwood Street in the Swan Canyon neighborhood and took her into custody.
Find out what’s happening in San Diegowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Alford was booked into Las Colinas women’s jail in Santee on suspicion of arson.
— City News Service
To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.