Arrests made in connection to series of fires in San Diego, police say

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Arrests made in connection to series of fires in San Diego, police say

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego police have made arrests in connection to several of the fires that broke out across the city last month, including the Center Fire in Rancho Bernardo.

The arrests in the Center Fire, a Mission Valley fire and two downtown-area fires — all of which occurred between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23, when the region was experiencing elevated fire risk due to stubbornly dry conditions — were announced by police Monday.

The suspects could face charges ranging from recklessly starting a fire in forest land to arson, police said.

Two of the most high-profile fires from this *******, the Friars Fire in Fashion Valley and Gilman Fire in La Jolla, remain under investigation, although authorities believe both the incidents originated near homeless encampments. No suspects have been arrested in either incident.

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The first arrest was on Jan. 15 shortly after a fire broke out in downtown in the 1400 block of 11th Avenue, according to SDPD. The suspect, who was identified as 47-year-old Ricardo Agraz, faces one charge of intentionally starting a fire in the area.

The second arrest was several days later, on Jan. 21. The suspect, 44-year-old Jerry Saenphansiri, is believed to have lit a vehicle on fire in the 1000 block of F Street in downtown, SDPD said. He faces an arson charge.

The third arrest was in connection to the Center Fire, which broke out on Jan. 22. According to SDPD, the Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) requested the district attorney bring a charge of recklessly initiating a fire in forest land to Joseph O’Conner, 66. He was not booked into jail due to pre-existing injuries, SDPD noted.

The fourth and final arrest announced by SDPD was related to a fire in Mission Valley along San Diego Mission Road on Jan. 23. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Shinisha Smith, adding she faces one charge of intentionally starting a fire in the area.

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