Miguel Angel Gamero
PALO ALTO — Police have arrested 22-year-old East Palo Alto resident Miguel Angel Gamero for setting a fire to his estranged wife’s motel room. According to the Palo Alto Police Department, “On Tuesday, September 6, 2016, at about 8:48 p.m., the 24-hour dispatch center received a call reporting a fire at the Glass Slipper Inn at 3941 El Camino Real.”
Responding Palo Alto Firefighters and police officers responded to an arson fire that had been set inside a single hotel room on the second floor of the facility. The flames from the fire could be seen through an open door to the motel room as 23 hotel guests were evacuated from the area.
On-scene fire personnel called a second alarm, with multiple fire units from the Palo Alto Fire Department, Mountain View Fire Department, and Santa Clara County Fire Department also responding.
The fire destroyed the single room, burning the surrounding walls but stopping short in the attic. Water damage to adjoining rooms was extensive. According to PAPD, “Firefighters were able to extinguish the main fire within 15 minutes, and had it completely out within 30 minutes.”
Arson investigators were called to the scene in which they determined the room had been rented to a young woman whose estranged husband had come to the room after having a no-contact domestic violence restraining order placed against him.
After he had become physically and verbally violent the female victim left the room. According to the PAPD, “At about 10:30 p.m., an officer from the Mountain View Police Department happened to contact the estranged husband in the 1800 block of California Street in Mountain View.” During the initial contact the suspect threatened Mountain View Police Officers who had contacted him. The suspect produced a pocket knife, but later was secured without injury to officers or the suspect. During his detainment it was soon discovered that the suspect had an outstanding felony warrant for a probation violation, and was also in possession of methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia.
Once Mountain View Police Department officers received information that the suspect was possibly connected to the arson, Mountain View Police Department officers turned the suspect over to the custody of Palo Alto detectives.
Police booked Gamero into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for arson, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, brandishing a weapon at a peace officer, possession of methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia, along with a felony warrant for violating his probation.
Gamero is on active probation in San Mateo County stemming from a prior conviction of violating a restraining order. Police are also recommending new charges of violating a restraining order as a result of the contact the suspect had with the victim at the hotel.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
