| For Immediate Release Case # 10CF0369
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
28-YEAR-OLD MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ARSON BY IGNITING A MARKED OCSD PATROL VEHICLE ON FIRE IN SANTA ANA PARKING LOT
SANTA ANA – A 28-year-old man is to be arraigned today for arson by setting a marked Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) patrol vehicle and a car next to it on fire which were parked outside a restaurant. Gabino Campo Jr., 28, Santa Ana, is charged with two felony counts of arson of another’s property with sentencing enhancements for arson with accelerant. If convicted, Campo faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison. The defendant is being held on $50,000 bail. Campo is scheduled to be arraigned today, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. in Department CJ1, Central Jail Court, Santa Ana.
At approximately 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2010, Campo is accused of entering and parking behind a marked OCSD black and white patrol car which was parked outside a Claim Jumper on Tustin Avenue and 17th Street in Santa Ana. The defendant is accused of pouring a flammable substance on the OCSD patrol car and lighting the vehicle on fire. Campo is accused of destroying both the OCSD vehicle and another vehicle parked next to it by setting the fire. Campo is then accused of fleeing the scene driving at high rates of speed in his 1990 Toyota Celica. Witnesses at the scene called 9-1-1.
On Feb. 13, 2010, Campo was arrested at a park in Costa Mesa. At the time his arrest, the defendant is accused of wearing the same clothing and backpack worn when committing the crime and being in possession of bottles of unknown liquids and matches.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Santa Ana Fire Department Supervising Arson Investigator Danny Morehouse (714) 936-3076 and/or District Attorney Investigator Andy Durham (714) 347-8735.
Deputy District Attorney Isreal Claustro of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
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