Man Sets Fire to City Building

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Fire Department got more than they bargained for when they responded to a call of a fire at the old city hall building.  When they arrived they found a man standing front of the illegally set fire.

When firefighters tried to approach the fire, the man, later identified as 21-year-old transient Miguel Aguilar Murillo attempted to fight them.  Murillo tried to disrupt the firefighters as they tried to put out the fire.  The firefighter called for assistance from the Watsonville Police Department.

Corporal Tomas Corral and Officer Scott Mead of the Watsonville Police Department arrived at the scene.   The officers confronted Murillo and he attempted to fight them but he was quickly subdued.

“When we got on the scene our officers could hear him yelling obscenities at the firefighters,” Watsonville Police Detective Albert Lopez said. “Even though our officers had him in control holds he was still trying to break free, and at one time he even took up a defensive position against the officers.”

With Murillo now in custody, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.  The Old City Hall Building, located at 250 Main Street, sustained some damage to the steps in front of the building from the fire.  The Watsonville Fire Department determined the fuel for the fire had been an old phonebook that had been set ablaze.

Murillo was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of arson and resisting arrest.  His bail has been set at $5,000.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Watsonville Police Department Crime Tip line at 831-728-3544 or the Watsonville Police Department Investigation Bureau at 831-768-3352.

Read More:

KION: Man Arrested for Setting Old City Hall Building on Fire

Santa Cruz Sentinel: Man Arrested on Suspicion of Arson in Watsonville