Man Who Burned Home And Took Life Identified

Copperopolis, Ca — Updating a previous report, Arno Watt of Copperopolis has been identified by the Calaveras County Sheriff´s Department as the man who burned down his home in the 4400 block of Little John Rd. in Copperopolis this morning and then took his own life.

According to Lt. Gary Kuntz, Sheriff´s Department and fire officials were dispatched to the home shortly after 10:30am because the home was fully engulfed.

Watt told deputies that he wasn´t going to give them any trouble, but he just wanted to be left alone.

Lt. Kuntz says that the deputies tried to talk Watt out of killing himself, but it was to no avail as the suspect pulled the shotgun on himself after killing a dog and a cat.

He had also shot at several neighbors who were attempting to protect their property from the fire he had started.

Written by BJ Hansen