Petaluma FedEx Truck Fire: Transient Suspected Of Arson

PETALUMA, CA -- Petaluma police arrested a Santa Rosa area transient on suspicion of setting a FedEx truck on fire in Petaluma early Wednesday morning, a police sergeant said. Officers and Petaluma firefighters responded around 2:10 a.m. to the fire that destroyed the empty box truck at the FedEx Freight facility at 1230 North McDowell Blvd., Sgt. Rick Cox said. The truck had just been repaired, and the loss is estimated at $50,000, Cox said.

Police contacted Chilico Hart, 37, in the general area after the fire but he was released because there was no suspect information, Cox said. On Thursday, police viewed surveillance video that showed Hart inside the truck just before it was set on fire, Cox said. The video showed Hart, who was wearing a tank top with yellow sides, white pants and an Oakland As hat, leaving the area as police and firefighters arrived, Cox said.

Police used the video from the surveillance camera and the police officers' body worn cameras to positively identify Hart as the suspect, Cox said.

Santa Rosa police located and detained Hart Thursday at Wilson and Sixth streets in Santa Rosa. Petaluma police responded and arrested Hart on suspicion of arson.

Hart admitted being in the general area of the fire but said he did not remember what occurred that night, Cox said.

He was booked in the Sonoma County Jail under $10,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court.

By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock