Homeless Man Suspected of Arson Held in Custody in Lieu of $225,000 Bond
Photo: Con Fire
CONCORD — Robert R. Acuff, 40 years old and homeless, was arrested on suspicion of committing arson. He is presently being housed in county jail in lieu of $225,000 bond, pending a review of the case.
The fire occurred at a business located on Clayton Road on the morning of April 8. A Contra Costa County Fire District (Con Fire) investigator determined it started inside a trash dumpster.
It soon spread to nearby items and then spread to the adjacent building.
Surveillance video recorded at a nearby convenience store shows the suspect starting this fire. A middle-aged man with a scruffy mop of hair, the suspect was shirtless and wearing baggy blue jeans.
The video clearly shows him lighting cardboard on fire. After igniting the cardboard, he places it inside a dumpster and walks away. Fortunately, no injuries were reported due to the fire.
Responding Concord police officers searched the vicinity. They located and recognized a man matching the description of the suspect recorded on the surveillance video.
It was Acuff who was detained one block away from that fire on the 1500 block of Clayton Road. He was identified as the suspect in the investigation conducted by Concord police and Con Fire.
Acuff was transported to the Concord police station, where he was questioned by the Con Fire investigator. Acuff was arrested by Con Fire at 3 p.m. He was subsequently booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, charged with one count of arson.
