Petaluma Christmas Day Arson Suspect Arrested

PETALUMA, CA — A suspect was taken into custody Tuesday in connection to two fires that broke out downtown Petaluma on Christmas Day, police said. Blazes were reported around 2 a.m. and 11:20 p.m. in trash bins along the 200 block of Water Street.

Police arrested Nalani Felli, a 50-year-old homeless resident in connection with the fires. Felli was located near Cedar Grove Parkway, where investigators spoke with him.

"Felli subsequently admitted to being the suspect in the video surveillance footage at both locations," police said in an announcement.

Police booked Felli on two counts of arson and taken to the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility.

The Santa Rosa Police and Fire departments were continuing to investigate other suspicious fires in the Cedar Grove Parkway area over the past several months and whether Fellis has any connection with them.

Anyone with information on the fires was asked to call Petaluma police at (707) 778-4372 or the Petaluma Fire Department (707) 778-4389.

Bay City News contributed to this report.