Crime & Safety
Suspected Arsonist Caught On Camera, Santa Cruz Police Say
Police are trying to identify this suspect, who allegedly damaged property and started a fire at Tannery Arts Center.
SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz police are searching for a suspect who damaged property and started a fire at Tannery Arts Center in late August, police said Tuesday. The vandalism happened in a landscaped area at about 4 a.m. on Aug. 22. Police responded to the 1100 block of River Street to find two small fires.
The arts center hosts events and offers affordable live-work spaces for artists. The fires were extinguished and only caused minor damage to the ground cover, according to police. Officers said they obtained video footage of the suspect during a follow-up investigation that showed he was responsible for the fires and additional felony vandalism in the arts complex.
Police and fire investigators haven't been able to identify the suspect and are asking for the public's help. Anyone with information about the suspect or the vandalism is asked to call Detective Steve Pendleton at 831-420-5832 or to email spendleton@cityofsantacruz.com.
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By Bay City News
Photo courtesy SCPD
