UPDATE: San Mateo County Arson Fire Suspects ID'd, Arrested

UPDATED at 5:45 PM MARCH 22:

Two San Mateo men have been arrested in connection with suspicious garbage bin fires set early Thursday in downtown San Mateo, authorities said Friday.

Carlos Cristerna, 21, and Wilbert Ramirez, 20, were taken into custody on suspicion of arson and conspiracy to commit a crime, according to San Mateo Police Officer Michael Haobsh.

The pair is suspected of setting garbage bins ablaze in an alley next to a building in the first block of Second Avenue, Haobsh said.

The fires were reported about 3:25 a.m. in the alley, which is near South El Camino Real.

The building was damaged when fire melted a window and set off the building's sprinkler system, Haobsh said.

After the fires were extinguished, officers increased patrols downtown, canvassed the area and shared images of the suspects on social media. Within a few hours, tips began pouring in, police said.

A combination of surveillance video, quick action by investigators and the numerous anonymous tips led police to the suspects, Haobsh said.

According to police, Cristerna was wearing the exact same clothing seen in surveillance video when he was arrested at home about 8:15 p.m.

Thursday. Evidence of the crime was found inside his home, Haobsh said.

Additional information led officers to the home of Wilbert Ramirez and he was arrested at 12:19 a.m. Friday. Evidence was also found at his home, according to police.

Police didn't release a motive behind the fires. The suspects were booked at San Mateo County Jail.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

ORIGINAL STORY:

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA -- The San Mateo Police and San Mateo Consolidated Fire departments are looking for two persons of interest who were seen near where several garbage bins that were set on fire downtown San Mateo in the early morning hours.

The case began at 3:23 a.m. Thursday, March 21, 2019, when the San Mateo Police and San Mateo Consolidated Fire departments were dispatched to a fire in an alley behind the first block of Second Avenue in downtown San Mateo.

When Fire and Police arrived on scene, they determined the fire was set in a group of garbage cans and located additional garbage cans on fire in the area of the initial call. Officials deemed the fires to be suspicious and launched an ongoing arson investigation. Officers are actively investigating leads and have increased patrols downtown, according to police.

According to surveillance, two individuals were seen leaving the area at the time of the fire and police are now asking for the public’s help in identifying persons of interest.

San Mateo Police and San Mateo Consolidated Fire departments are conducting a joint arson investigation and are asking for the cooperation of business owners to provide surveillance video to help identify persons of interest. Anyone with information, or who may have access to video footage of the area, is encouraged to contact police immediately.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Lau at (650) 522-7617 or by email at llau@cityofsanmateo.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted to http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips or by calling (650) 522-7676.