Police: Arsonist in custody for west San Ramon fires
SAN RAMON – East Bay Regional Parks Police have arrested a suspect they say is responsible for two fires in the west San Ramon area earlier this week.
Two fires were ignited in the hills near Pradera Way this week, the first on Sunday, September 23, and the second on Monday, September 24th.
The Sunday fire was located within the city limits of San Ramon and East Bay Regional Park District property. It spread to 10 acres until it was extinguished. The fire that occurred on Monday was determined to have been started in the Thomas Ranch area of Las Trampas Regional Park, according to the East Bay Regional Parks District. Monday’s fire was smaller, around 6.4 acres, according to fire officials.
Detectives from East Bay Regional Park District Police identified a suspect responsible for starting the fires and subsequently arrested him at a residence in San Ramon.
The suspect was identified as William R. Priest, 39. East Bay Regional Park District Police Department booked the suspect into the Martinez Detention Facility for one count of arson. He is being held on $75,000 bail.
According to an independent source, Priest was identified after a citizen called the fire department during Monday’s fire reporting a suspicious subject who was seen hiding in the bushes shortly after the fire started. The citizen was able to give a detailed description of the suspect and his vehicle.
The source also confirmed the suspect was taken into custody Monday evening at a residence in San Ramon just a half mile from the location of the fires.
2 Replies to “Police: Arsonist in custody for west San Ramon fires”
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Thank god for the eyewitness and the great work of the SRPD and firefighters. We live almost across the street (Bollinger) from the fires. Pretty scary stuff.
Thank you SRPD & our fire fighting heroes. He should be made to pay all the damages that he caused to Thomas Ranch Open Space area which cost us thousands a year to maintain.