Man Sets Fire To Shelter, Threatens To Kill Officer: Petaluma PD

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man is accused of setting a woman's shelter on fire with a Molotov cocktail, then threatening to kill an officer who was arresting him, the Petaluma Police Department said.

The woman suffered minor burns to her feet and her bedding and shelter were partially destroyed in the incident reported around 5:30 p.m. Monday under the North McDowell Boulevard bridge, police said.

Police believe Jesus Antonio Orosco, 43, was camping under the bridge with the woman when he became upset with her.

"Orosco created a Molotov cocktail from a partially used bottle of alcohol, which he then lit on fire," Petaluma police Sgt. Patrick Gerke said in a news release. "Orosco threw the lit Molotov cocktail at the victim’s mattress, which she was laying on top of. Two people, who were driving on North McDowell Blvd, saw smoke coming from under the bridge and reported the incident to the police department."

The two witnesses also went under the bridge and said when they confronted Orosco, he tried to put out the fire, Gerke said.

Officers got there and arrested Orosco while firefighters worked to fully extinguish the fire.

The Petaluma Fire Department also treated the woman for the burns she suffered and helped with the arson investigation, Gerke said.

The woman was also treated at a local hospital.

As for Orosco, he became angry and threatened to kill a Petaluma police officer, Gerke said.

Orosco was later booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, arson to an inhabited dwelling and terrorist threats, Gerke said.

Orosco's bail was set at $250,000 and he remained in custody Tuesday morning, jail records showed.