Man Accused Of Igniting Fires At Banning Police Station Arrested

BANNING, CA — A transient suspected of igniting small fires outside the Banning Police Department, as well as attempting to break into the building's secure parking lot and drop a combustible device in the driveway, was behind bars Wednesday.

Kenneth James Joshua Baker, 40, was arrested and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility Tuesday on suspicion of possession of an incendiary device, arson and attempted arson. Bail information was unavailable.

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According to the Banning Police Department, sometime after 4 p.m. Tuesday, Baker allegedly lit a small fire in front of the police station at East Ramsey and North Alessandro streets, and then ignited another nominal fire near the rear of the facility.

"Both fires were put out by police and city staff," police Capt. Brandon Smith said. "The investigation also showed that Baker attempted to start a third fire to the front of the station, but was unsuccessful, and he attempted to disable the vehicle access gate to the station and attempted to place a metal compressed gas tank in the driveway to the station."

No damage was reported.

Officers checked security surveillance video images and confirmed Baker's identity, recognizing him as a local homeless man, according to Smith.

He said patrol personnel tracked the suspect to an intersection roughly four blocks to the west, where Baker was taken into custody without incident just after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A possible motive for the suspect's alleged offenses was not mentioned, and background information on him was unavailable.