Crime & Safety
Man Who Allegedly Set Palm Trees on Fire Arrested for Arson
Victor Vargas-Chavez, 49, from Merced was arrested after witnesses linked him to two fires.
Santa Cruz Police say that on Friday shortly before 11 a.m. Victor Vargas-Chavez, 49, was spotted setting a palm tree on fire on the 500 block of Ocean Avenue at a hotel.
A Santa Cruz Fire Department crew extinguished it. But an hour and a half later, another tree at San Lorenzo Park, 137 Dakota Ave. was also burned.
Police found Vargas-Chavez who had a lighter in his pocket and was identified by witnesses as the person who set the two fires.
Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of arson.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
