Man Arrested, Accused Of Trying To Start Fire At Gas Pumps At Watsonville Store

WATSONVILLE, CA – A 29-year-old man who allegedly tried to start a fire near gas pumps outside a convenience store in Watsonville Thursday evening was arrested, police said.

Edgar Cruz-Arias was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson, assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism, resisting arrest and being under the influence, police Sgt. David Rodriguez said. Shortly before 7 p.m., officers responded to a report of a suspicious man possibly using a lighter near gas pumps at a 7-Eleven store at
261 E. Lake Ave., Rodriguez said.

Officers arrived to find a man, later identified as Cruz-Arias, spraying a fire extinguisher on a gas pump, the sergeant said.

The 29-year-old man allegedly dropped the extinguisher and smashed a gas pump with a 3-foot iron rod, Rodriguez said.

The officers used their Taser stun guns and stopped Cruz-Arias, who was detained, according to Rodriguez.
The suspect suffered minor injuries in the incident and was later booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, the sergeant said.

No officers were injured, according to Rodriguez.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at (831) 471-1151 or the anonymous crime tip line at (831) 768-3354.

• Also see: Watsonville Man ID'd In Suspected-DUI Crash Off Bridge That Killed Woman, 18

--Bay City News