Homeless Man Arrested For Alleged Santa Cruz Arson

SANTA CRUZ, CA -- A man was arrested this week for allegedly starting fires across the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz in August. Police said Eduardo Lopez, a 25-year-old transient from Santa Cruz, was arrested Sunday afternoon because he resembled the description of the suspected arsonist.

Lopez, who was booked for arson and felony vandalism, is accused of starting two small fires in the 1100 block of River Street in the early morning hours of Aug. 22.

The small fires were quickly extinguished and caused only minor damage to the ground cover, police said.

While conducting a follow-up investigation into the suspicious fires, investigators were advised of
felony vandalism that had occurred within the Tannery Arts Center complex at about the same time, police said.

Detectives were able to recover several security videos from the surrounding area, and upon viewing
them, were able to confirm the same male suspect was responsible for both crimes, police said.

--Photos via Santa Cruz Police Department