A 28-year-old San Jose man was arrested by Mountain View police Wednesday on suspicion of starting two fires, one at Rengstorff Park and another along Latham Street. The man is out on bail after being charged with vehicular manslaughter.
Police said in a statement released Thursday that the man is suspected of starting the fires that occurred just minutes apart on Tuesday, March 30. A palm tree was set on fire near the intersection of Latham Street and Escuela Avenue, and a dumpster at Rengstorff Park was lit aflame shortly after, police said.
A city parks employee spotted a man matching the description of the suspect shortly after the dumpster fire, and saw the same man return to Rengstorff Park the next day. Officers came to the park, identified the man as the suspect and arrested him.
The man is also facing vehicular manslaughter charges for a case in San Jose, and was out on bail at the time of the arsons, police said. He was booked into Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of felony arson charges and for committing a felony while out on bail.
It's the second arrest in a Mountain View arson case this week. On Monday, March 29, an Elk Grove woman was arrested on suspicion of setting fires at two Target stores, including one in Mountain View.
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