Gas can-toting arson suspect arrested
OCEANSIDE — Oceanside police arrested a man riding a bicycle and wearing a backpack that contained a gas can and a lighter who was seen leaving the San Luis Rey riverbed where nine small brush fires ignited late Friday night.Hansen Frederick was seen in the area where the fires started and was arrested after a search by law enforcement, firefighters and a sheriff’s helicopter, Sgt. Rick Favela said. Frederick’s city of residence and age were not immediately available.
The first fire started near Mesa Drive and Foussat Road and burned approximately one acre of dry brush, coming within about 200 feet of nearby homes, according to Oceanside fire officials. Just as firefighters were nearly finished extinguishing the fire, another was reported two miles away near Redwood and Cypress streets. Eventually six small fires were found at that location.
Subsequently, the fire department said, two more fires were reported at the original Mesa and Foussat location. Firefighters who reached the area quickly reported seeing a man on a bicycle riding away. In all, fire officials said the nine fires burned between three and four acres of brush but did not damage any structures.
Source: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/aug/03/oceanside-gas-arson-lighter-arrested/---------------------------------------------
