Surveillance leads to arson suspect’s arrest

FREMONT >> A 44-year- old man was in city jail after his arrest outside the latest of a series of homes targeted in arson attempts, authorities said Tuesday.

In a statement, police said investigators were able to match footage from private residential surveillance cameras with images from the city’s community camera network to establish a suspect and identify a vehicle and license plate.

After surveilling the suspect, officers followed him to an address on Hoyt Street near Lippert Avenue around 2:45 a.m., police said. That address previously had been targeted Sunday, and other addresses had seen arson damage Dec. 1 on Castro Lane and last Friday and Sunday on Cougar Court.

After detectives saw the suspect quickly get out of his own vehicle and pour liquid on a parked vehicle, officers tried to rush him but he managed to set it on fire.

While officers detained him as he fled back to his vehicle, other officers were able to use a garden hose to put out the fire. Although investigators shared few details about the arson incidents, detectives believe the man knew at least one of the targeted residents.

He was arrested on suspicion of arson- related charges and was booked into Fremont city jail in lieu of $205,000 bail, according to a county records check Tuesday afternoon. He faces arraignment today at Dublin’s East County Hall of Justice.

Anyone with information may contact Fremont police Detective Travis MacDonald at 510-790- 6900 or tmacdonald@fremont.gov.