Fire Sparks, Vandalism Reported At College Of Marin

NOVATO, CA — A man was arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies Saturday after a fire broke out and vandalism was reported at the College of Marin's Indian Valley Campus, school officials said.

A fire alarm was reported at 5:25 a.m. Saturday in a classroom at the Novato college. As first responders arrived, they saw a suspect vandalizing a campus building, according to a news release from the College of Marin.

Novato and Marin County firefighters fought the fire northwest of the Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden, while authorities with the College of Marin, Novato Police Department and Marin County Sheriff's Office searched for the suspect.

Within minutes, police found a suspect who witnesses confirmed was the person seen vandalizing the campus, school officials said. Jess Aloysius Roach, 53, of Novato was booked on suspicion of multiple felony charges at the Marin County Jail.

School officials said a classroom window was broken, a computer was destroyed, and electrical equipment was destroyed, including the beacon for the alert system. A College of Marin van was also damaged during the vandalism.

The fire was contained to less than a half-acre, school officials said. It was unclear whether the fire was connected to the suspect.