A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson after he allegedly used a small lighter to set a palm tree on fire near the Spring Valley Swap Meet on Monday, sheriff’s officials said.
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Deputies received a report around 6:30 p.m. from a resident that said they saw a man lighting a tree on fire on Quarry Road just east of state Route 125, Sgt. Matthew Moser said in a news release.
The blaze resulted in the evacuation of nearby townhomes before firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, Moser said. No structures were damaged.
Following the report from the witness, California Highway Patrol officials and an unmanned drone began searching the area for the alleged arsonist, according to Moser.
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The drone found the suspect and tracked him south toward Sweetwater Dam. Deputies arrested the suspect near SR-125 and state Route 54.
Deputies reported finding several butane torches and drug paraphernalia in his possession. They also learned he was allegedly wanted on a felony warrant for suspected identity theft.
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