Home Contra Costa County Contra Costa County Fire Announces Arrest in Martinez Arsons

Contra Costa County Fire Announces Arrest in Martinez Arsons

by ECT

CONCORD, CALIF.– Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) today announced the arrest of an accused arsonist in connection with several fires set at a business in Martinez on the evening of March 10, 2021.

Fabian Vera, 36, a transient, was arrested by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in Bay Point on March 16 for a warrant resulting from an arson investigation conducted earlier by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Fire Investigation Unit.

At 7:20 p.m. on March 10, Con Fire responded to a report of a fire at 4901 Pacheco Boulevard in Martinez. Arriving on scene, Engine 9 discovered and extinguished multiple fires on the property. The fires had potential to cause significant structural damage, however, due to a rapid response, they were quickly contained.

Con Fire’s on-duty investigator responded and located three separate fires. One fire burned a Ford F-250 utility truck and an outdoor storage rack containing spools of telecom cable. An additional fire was located inside a wheelbarrow approximately 30 feet from the burned vehicle and under a large roof overhang covering an exterior storage area, which was also damaged. A third fire was located adjacent to a stack of lumber elsewhere in the storage yard. More than $75,000 in damage was sustained as a result of the fires.

Investigators determined the business had been having problems with a recently terminated employee and obtained surveillance video showing Vera within the closed commercial facility vandalizing property and leaving the area at the time the fires had been set.

Con Fire investigators obtained a warrant for the suspect’s arrest.

Sheriff’s deputies made contact with Vera on March 16 and subsequently arrested him as a result of the outstanding warrant. He was transported and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility where he was interviewed by fire investigators. Following interview, fire investigators presented the case to the District Attorney for a filing decision.

The suspect remains in custody and is scheduled to be arraigned today in Contra Costa County Superior Court.’

Information release by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

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