Valley Springs, CA – A suspicious incident involving a man who tried to flee resulted in his arrest after a Calaveras County Sheriff’s deputy recognized the alleged suspect associated with a fire that ignited in the Valley Springs area the day before and stopped to investigate.
According to sheriff’s officials, a deputy was recently in the 200 block of Highway 12 in Valley Springs when he noticed a man who matched the description of the suspect who may have started a fire the day before that was quickly extinguished. While patrolling the same area the next evening, sheriff’s officials say the deputy spotted the unidentified subject matching the description, hunched over what appeared to be a pile of discarded items and a plastic bin.
“Based on the circumstances and the information from the previous incident, the deputy stopped to investigate. During the contact, the subject became extremely agitated and attempted to elude the deputy, leading to his arrest,” disclosed sheriff’s officials, adding, “This incident highlights that our deputies don’t simply respond to calls and move on to the next. They remember what they see, retain information from previous incidents, recognize patterns, and remain alert when they are back out patrolling our communities. That vigilance is especially important during fire season.”
The public is reminded that anyone who sees someone lighting a fire or observes suspicious activity that could potentially lead to a blaze should call 9-1-1 and report it.
“With fire season underway and our community still recovering from the devastating effects of the Gann Fire, our deputies remain alert for activity that could potentially put our communities at risk. We appreciate our deputies for staying alert, remembering what they see, and taking action when circumstances warrant it,” stated sheriff’s officials.
