Photo: Alberto Acosta
On the evening of August 12 a fire burned on South Dora street. Responding deputies received the report of another fire on Gobalet Street 1.5 miles to the south.
Then, half a mile to the south, yet another fire was reported on Highway 253. As evacuation warnings went yet, there was still yet another fire report on Plant Road.
By this time, several witnesses spotted a suspect – a Native American or Hispanic male with a ponytail, black clothing, and riding a bicycle.
One witness, an off-duty MCSO Corrections Deputy, spotted Alberto Acosta and gave detectives this information.
Footage from surveillance video confirmed Acosta’s identity as the suspect in these arsons.
The next morning an officer of the Ukiah Police Department spotted Acosta as he walked by Perkins street and South Orchard Avenue.
Acosta was detained and then arrested, booked on various charges related to arson, and his bail was set at $1,000,000.
The suspect was implicated in the fires that occurred in these locations –
4:56 PM – South Dora Street near Fircrest Drive
4:58 PM – South Dora Street at Bourbon Lane
5:04 PM – Gobalet Lane at South State Street
5:15 PM – Plant Road near Taylor Drive
5:18 PM – End of Airport Park Boulevard
6:14 PM to 6:19 PM – Babcock Lane near Talmage Bridge (4 separate fires)
