Arson Suspect Arrested In Union City, Hayward Hills Fires

UNION CITY, CA — A suspected arsonist accused of setting a series of eight small fires Saturday afternoon in Garin Regional Park and Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park on the east edge of Hayward and Union City has been arrested, East Bay Regional police said.

Witnesses gave descriptions of the suspect to police at the scene of the fire and Eagle 6, the East Bay Regional Park District police helicopter that was actively dropping water on burning areas, spotted a person matching those descriptions.

The person tried to flee but the helicopter crew was able to guide police to his location.

Roman Montalvo, 42, was taken into custody on charges that include arson, resisting arrest, and failure to register as a sex offender. Montalvo also had a felony arrest warrant.

The fires, reported shortly before 4:45 p.m. Saturday, burned less than 10 acres and no buildings were damaged or threatened, the park district said. By 9:45 p.m. they were doing mop-up work.

— Bay City News