Man Suspected In Police Vehicle Arson, Santa Monica Officials Say

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempting to set a Santa Monica police car on fire and is now facing arson charges from the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, police said this week.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against George Joosten who is suspected of lighting a police vehicle on fire, Lt. Rudy Flores of the Santa Monica Police Department told Patch. Joosten also goes by the name Jessie Rudicil and told arrested officers he was 22 years old.

Police officers were investigating a robbery and detaining several suspects at the 4th Street Metro train station on Feb. 25 about 6:04 p.m. when the incident happened, officials said.

One of their unmarked police vehicles was left at the intersection of 5th and Colorado with its emergency lights activated, police said.

Witnesses saw Joosten reportedly jump on top of the vehicle while the officers were investigating, Flores said. He is suspected of pouring an unknown substance over the hood, then igniting it on fire.

The suspect then fled the area before he was stopped by officers.

"Witnesses positively identified Joosten as being the person causing the arson," Flores said.

The fire was extinguished by police officers with a fire extinguisher.

The Los Angeles County’s District Attorney’s Officer Monday charged Joosten with arson.

Joosten was held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility. His bail was set at $50,000.

Patch reached out to the district attorney's office for more information. He is scheduled to appear at Hollywood Superior Court March 15, according to the sheriff's department inmate booking website.

Anyone with additional information about this incident can contact Santa Monica Police Detective A. Buus with the Criminal Investigations Division at (310) 458-8943 or the Watch Commander’s office at (310) 458-2249.