SDSU Police Solve Arson Case
The investigation officially concluded with a guilty plea from the suspect last month.
Detectives from the SDSU Police Department have solved two arson cases that took place in the underground parking area of Fraternity Row in December 2008. The investigation officially concluded with the guilty plea of the suspect this past May.
The incident
According to Lt. Lamine Secka, SDSU Police officers initially responded to a call of a fire in the parking area of the Fraternity Row complex located at 5255 55th Street on Dec. 21. Officers arrived to discover black smoke billowing from the parking garage.
"There were in fact two separate fire scenes discovered by officers," Secka said. "A mailbox receptacle and a dumpster had both been lit ablaze. Officers extinguished the mailbox fire and the San Diego Fire Department responded to put out the dumpster fire before it caused damage to nearby vehicles."
Joint investigation
SDSU Police recently closed an arson case involving the Fraternity Row garage, pictured here.SDSU detectives later took over the investigation. Working in collaboration with the Metro Arson Strike Team, investigators learned that both fires were intentionally set and that the potential for more damage from the dumpster fire was significant.
The fire captain pointed out that dumpster fires pose a unique threat because of the variety of materials that could be inside the dumpster and the potentially toxic smoke that is created.
Detectives began piecing together the incident by reviewing surveillance video, Secka said. They were able to identify a vehicle, a dark blue Honda, which was seen leaving the complex moments after the fire was started.
“Working with Frat Row staff, detectives were able to verify that the remote control that opened the garage door moments after the fire began was assigned to the same Honda,” Secka said.
“Detectives located the owner of the vehicle and, over the course of several interviews, were able to obtain a confession for setting the fires.”
Case closed
Detectives requested a warrant for felony arson, which was issued by the Superior Court of California. When presented with the evidence and confession in court, the accused subsequently pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
