MAN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TODAY FOR ARSON AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON A PEACE OFFICER AFTER THROWING FLAMING TOWELS AT OCSD STANTON SUBSTATION AND RAMMING INTO OCSD PATROL VEHICLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case #:18WF0024

Date: July 30, 2018

MAN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TODAY FOR ARSON AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON A PEACE OFFICER AFTER THROWING FLAMING TOWELS AT OCSD STANTON SUBSTATION AND RAMMING INTO OCSD PATROL VEHICLE

 SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for arson and assaulting a peace officer after throwing flaming towels at an Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) substation in Stanton and ramming into an OCSD patrol vehicle.

 Circumstances of the Case

• On Dec. 31, 2017, Lam was contacted by OCSD deputies and offered assistance after his vehicle stalled on north Beach Boulevard near Orangewood Avenue in Stanton. Lam yelled profanities at the deputies, declined assistance, and drove away.
• At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2018, Lam soaked two towels in gasoline, lighting them on fire, and throwing them over the south wall of the OCSD substation in Stanton, causing a marked black and white OCSD patrol vehicle to catch fire and sustain minor burns to the rear passenger door.
• OCSD deputies at the scene utilized a fire extinguisher from another patrol vehicle and extinguished the fire after multiple attempts.
• Lam fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan, which OCSD deputies recognized from their previous encounter.
• While fleeing, the defendant rammed his vehicle into an OCSD patrol car and resisted arrest. 

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Angela Hong, Special Prosecutions Unit