An alleged arsonist who investigators believe set fire to three vehicles in the Fox 5 San Diego studio parking lot in Kearny Mesa was arrested Wednesday, according to San Diego police.
Security cameras at the station filmed the incident that was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. Monday on Engineer Road east of Interstate 805, said Lt. Daniel Meyer in a news release.
The video shows a man using what appears to be a blow torch to set ablaze a white Jeep parked in front of the office. The fire also damaged two other vehicles, a security gate access pad, a sensor and the front entry door to the news station.
Station employees used fire extinguishers to put out the blaze, but not before it caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, said Sgt. Rick Pechin of San Diego’s Metro Arson Strike Team.
Two days later, a witness called 911 around 8:45 a.m. to report seeing a man with a weapon on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard near Ruffner Street, Penchin said. A MAST detective was in the area searching for the arson suspect and responded to the call.
“When the detective rolled up … he recognized the suspect as the man in the (arson) video,” said Penchin.
The 41-year-old man was detained, Penchin said. In the man’s possession were items that connected him to the arson, police said, but detectives did not provide specific details .
Penchin said detectives are still searching for a motive but have found nothing that indicates the station or vehicles were specifically targeted.
He was taken to San Diego Central Jail and booked on suspicion of six counts of arson and a parole violation.
