7 Arson Arrests In Made In 30 Days: Con Fire

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Fires at a Concord golf course and a Walnut Creek construction site were among eight suspected arson investigations that led to seven arrests within the last 30 days, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said Wednesday.

Con Fire investigators worked with law enforcement partners in Walnut Creek, Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg and Pleasant Hill to solve the cases and make the arrests.

"Quick work of our investigators in close coordination with law enforcement partners resulted in the identification of seven arsonists threatening our communities in January and February," said Capt. Ryan Graham, supervisor of Con Fire’s Fire Investigation Unit. "Community involvement is critical to solving cases of arson and the residents of Contra Costa County can help protect us all by confidentially providing arson-related information to the Arson Tip line at 1-866-50- ARSON."

Con Fire will forward the cases to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and request arson charges, Con Fire Spokesperson Steve Hill said.

Investigations continue in some of the cases, with further charges expected to be filed.

Apartment, Construction Site Fires In Walnut Creek

A Pittsburg man was arrested Jan. 16 on suspicion of setting three separate arson fires in a commercial complex under construction in the 1900 block of North California Street in Walnut Creek.

Walnut Creek Police Department and Con Fire investigators accuse 30-year-old Tristan Miano of setting the fires on a concrete subfloor at the construction site.

The second Walnut Creek arrest involved a fire Feb. 5 at a 45-unit apartment complex in the 2700 block of North Main Street.

Investigators allege the fire was intentionally set by a resident after an argument with his wife.

Surveillance video showed a suspect leaving the area of the fire; using the footage, Walnut Creek police identified the suspect as Randall Griffey-Shay, 32, of Walnut Creek. Within five hours, Griffey-Shay was located and arrested.

After interviewing Griffey-Shay, Con Fire investigators arrested him on suspicion of aggravated arson to an inhabited structure.

Golf Course, Christmas Ornament Fires In Concord

Jason Myers, 40, of Antioch, was arrested Feb. 4 in connection with a suspected arson fire one year earlier at the Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord.

Investigators responded during the early morning hours of Jan. 19, 2020, to a fire at the golf course that destroyed an RV, a box truck, three golf carts, and caused extensive damage to a maintenance garage with an adjoining office.

At the time, surveillance video led investigators to Myers, a former employee of the golf course, Con Fire said.

"He was interviewed but denied being involved and there was not enough evidence to arrest him at the time," Hill said.

The investigation continued for more than a year and on Feb. 4, Myers was contacted and presented with new evidence. He was arrested and taken to the Concord Police Department where he was booked.

On Feb. 7, a Christmas tree ornament was lit on fire in the middle of Harrison Street near Concord Avenue. Witnesses saw the same person light a piece of paper on fire near the back wall of the nearby Walgreens store.

The suspect was positively identified by witnesses as Robert Currier, 26, a transient living in Concord. In an interview with Concord police, Currier reportedly admitted lighting the objects on fire. He was cited and released for the suspected unlawful fire of property.

Mall Fire In Antioch

Anthony Cummings, 27, of Vallejo was arrested on suspicion of felony arson in connection with a Jan. 6 fire at the County East Mall on Somersville Road in Antioch.

Security officers witnessed a man later identified as Cummings setting fire to a trash can at the entrance, Con Fire said.

Cummings was booked into the Martinez jail.

Business, Christmas Tree Fires In Pittsburg

Mandell Jeter, 24, a transient, was arrested in connection with a fire Jan. 17 that damaged a business on Memorial Way in Pittsburg.

Firefighters saw someone trying to leave through a hole in the roof of the building. When questioned, Jeter admitted having intentionally set the fire, Con Fire said. Jeter tried to run off but was arrested on suspicion of arson to a structure and resisting arrest.

Transient Suspected In Multiple Pleasant Hill Fires

Jonathan Erick Duke, 34, a transient of Pleasant Hill, was arrested Jan. 18 on suspicion of arson to property in connection with an exterior fire on Ellinwood Drive in Pleasant Hill.

In this case, Con Fire said the suspect ran off as Con Fire and Pleasant Hill police responded. A Con Fire investigator recognized Duke because he saw him in the vicinity of other recent fires in the same area, Con Fire said.

Duke was cited and released pending further investigation.

Five days later, on Jan. 23, Duke is accused of setting a Christmas tree on fire at the end of Santa Monica Drive in Pleasant Hill. When detained by Pleasant Hill police, Duke admitted setting the tree on fire, Con Fire said.

Duke was booked into the Martinez jail on suspicion of arson to property.

Con Fire investigators are continuing to look into whether Duke may be connected to several other recent fires in the area.