Executive Summary
- Deputies responded to multiple fires burning near SR-125 and SR-54 in Bonita.
- A probationer was located hiding in bushes with a torch lighter and stolen IDs.
- The Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson unit documented six separate ignition points at the scene.
- The suspect faces narcotics, weapons, and identity theft charges.
BONITA, Calif. — Law enforcement officials arrested a male suspect on Sunday following reports of multiple vegetation fires that scorched approximately one-quarter acre beneath a highway interchange in Bonita, California.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from the Rancho San Diego and Imperial Beach stations responded at approximately 11:00 a.m. to the 5700 block of Quarry Road, located near State Route 125 and State Route 54. Authorities utilized aerial support and witness accounts to locate a male suspect hiding in nearby bushes.
Sheriff’s officials stated that the detained individual has an extensive criminal history and is currently on probation. During a subsequent probation compliance search, deputies reportedly discovered a torch lighter, narcotics paraphernalia, an expandable baton, and credit cards and identification documents that did not belong to the suspect.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson unit arrived at the scene and documented six separate small fires. Fire crews successfully extinguished the flames, limiting the damage to roughly one-quarter acre of vegetation under the highway infrastructure.
The suspect was taken into custody on charges related to narcotics, weapons possession, and identity theft. His identity has not been publicly released by the agency.
Investigative Outlook
The swift containment of these fires prevented potential structural damage to the overarching highway system, a critical concern in infrastructure safety management. While the suspect was arrested on weapons and narcotics charges, the recovery of a torch lighter and the documentation of multiple ignition points will likely form the core of the arson inquiry. Investigators will now focus on forensic evidence to determine if the seized device can be definitively linked to the six separate fires. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
