UPDATE: Suspect Arrested In Arson & Vandalism Case

 

CASE UPDATE: On Sunday, October 29, 2018, at approximately 3:40 p.m., a Santa Cruz Police Department Ranger observed a man walking in the 100 block of Emmett Street who resembled the description of a suspect arsonist. Soon after, Detectives contacted the suspect identified as 25-year-old Eduardo Lopez, transient in Santa Cruz. He was a match in surveillance videos from the business.

At the time of his arrest, Eduardo Lopez had two outstanding warrants and was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail for arson and felony vandalism.

BACKGROUND: On August 22, 2018, around 4:44 a.m., Santa Cruz Police and Fire responded to 1100 block of River Street following the report of a small, suspicious fire within a landscaped area, across from the Tannery Arts Center. Santa Cruz Fire personnel arrived shortly after and found two small fires within the planted area. These small fires were quickly extinguished and caused only minor damage to the ground cover.

While conducting a follow-up investigation into the suspicious fires, police investigators were advised of felony vandalism that had occurred within the Tannery Arts Center complex, at about the same time. Detectives were able to recover several security videos from the surrounding area, and upon viewing them, were able to confirm the same unidentified male suspect was responsible for both crimes.