Arson Suspect Captured After Hijacking Woman's Flatbed In NorCal

SONOMA COUNTY, CA —A man suspected in two fires triggered a sweeping manhunt on Tuesday.

Deputies searching the Geyser Road area near the Mendocino County line arrested 29-year-old Luke Deramo, suspected in a string of fires — including a brush fire that erupted during the search, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation began about 9 a.m. Tuesday during a search by Sonoma County deputies tied to a previous arson case. During the search, a deputy contacted a woman parked along Geyser Road to warn her to call law enforcement if she spotted Deramo.

About 30 minutes later, the woman dialed 911 and reported that a man matching the description emerged from nearby brush, climbed into the bed of her truck, and refused to leave. Authorities said he smashed the vehicle with a rock before fleeing toward brush near the river.

Minutes later, firefighters responded to a vegetation fire in the same area where deputies last saw Deramo. Fire crews contained the flames while deputies and officers from the Cloverdale Police Department searched nearby river and brush areas.

Authorities also contacted CAL FIRE law enforcement investigators because Deramo was a suspect in other fires in the region.

Investigators said Deramo ran from deputies during the search before officers captured him roughly one mile south of the fire scene, according to a Sonoma County Sheriff's Office news release.

Deramo was transported to the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of multiple felony arson-related charges. His bail was set at more than a $1 million.