Video Captures Possible Soquel Arson Suspect

SOQUEL - A video has been released of a possible suspect in an arson case that damaged 10 cars in Soquel earlier this week, Santa Cruz County sheriff’s officials said Friday.

The video footage taken just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday shows a man walking at a business complex at Park Avenue and Soquel Drive, down the street from where the fires were reported less than two hours later, sheriff’s officials said.

The potential suspect is described as a white man between 35 and 45 years old, according to sheriff’s officials.

Firefighters had responded to a report of a dumpster fire in the 2900 block of Park Avenue early Wednesday just after midnight, according to sheriff’s officials.

Also on Patch: Soquel Arson Fires Appear Linked

When crews reached the scene they found one car on fire. About an hour later they found five other cars completely engulfed in flames at an apartment complex on Subec Lane, near Park Avenue, sheriff’s officials said.

Four other cars in a wooden carport at the complex were also on fire, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before further damage was done, according to sheriff’s officials said. The damage to the cars was estimated at more than $100,000, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies suspect both fires are connected and are still determining the cause, according to sheriff’s officials said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call sheriff’s dispatch at (831) 471-1121 or (831) 454-7600.

-Bay City News Service