Five Arrested In Separate Sonoma County Arson Cases

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A surge of suspicious fires along local trails, creeks, and greenways has led to five arrests in separate arson investigations, but authorities say the broader investigation is far from over.

Investigators say the five suspects arrested over the past several weeks are not believed to have worked together. However, detectives are examining whether any may be connected to additional unsolved fires.

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In one case, officers found paperwork intentionally burning less than a foot from tall, dry grass along the Santa Rosa Creek Trail near West Eighth Street and Simpson Avenue on July 7.

Police arrested 32-year-old Santa Rosa resident Adan Alvarez-Florez at the scene on suspicion of reckless burning of personal property.

Six days later, firefighters stopped two fires involving a fence and a backyard couch in the 700 block of A Street before they spread.

Detectives identified a 46-year-old man recorded on surveillance cameras as Wuilton De Leon Reyes. He was arrested July 13 in Old Courthouse Square on suspicion of arson.

On July 20, witnesses reported a man setting another person's property on fire in the 700 block of Seventh Street. The blaze damaged landscaping and a plastic storm drain grate.

Investigators used surveillance footage to identify 42-year-old Corey Bynum, who was arrested nearby on suspicion of arson, vandalism, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Another investigation focused on a July 18 grass fire along the College Creek Trail near West College Avenue. Firefighters extinguished a 10-foot-by-15-foot patch of burning dry grass before it spread.

Detectives again using surveillance footage identified 37-year-old transient Jason Cass, who was arrested July 22 on suspicion of arson, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The most recent arrest came July 24 after two witnesses saw a woman ignite dry grass near Ninth and Morgan streets. The witnesses put out the flames themselves, provided a suspect description, and helped officers locate 36-year-old Jessica Lucas within minutes. She was arrested on an outstanding out-of-county warrant and on suspicion of reckless burning.

The string of arrests comes as Santa Rosa enters the height of fire season, when even a small flame can spread rapidly through dry vegetation. Fire and police officials said prompt reports from residents, surveillance cameras, and coordinated investigations have been key to preventing potentially larger fires.

Since June 30, the Santa Rosa Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau and the Santa Rosa Police Department have investigated more than 30 vegetation and suspicious fires across the city, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

At least 17 are believed to have been intentionally set. The blazes, ranging from a few square feet to about three-quarters of an acre, have burned near the Joe Rodota Trail, Prince Memorial Greenway, Santa Rosa Creek Trail, and College Creek Trail.

Investigators say the five suspects arrested over the past several weeks are not believed to have worked together. However, detectives are examining whether any may be connected to additional unsolved fires.

Anyone with information should contact the Santa Rosa Police Department's Property Crimes Investigations Team at 707-543-3575 or submit an anonymous tip through the city's online crime reporting system.