SAN RAFAEL— An unemployed man arrested for arson has been getting himself in trouble since 2015. The suspect is Joshua S. Goebel, 41, a transient who roams San Rafael and frequents Marin County Jail.
SRPD officers arrested Goebel again on November 4 at 11:05 p.m. He was taken into custody near 400 Las Galinas Avenue in the Terra Linda neighborhood. Bond to release him from jail was set at $50,000.
Goebel is allegedly responsible for starting a fire in the Northgate Town Square redevelopment area. The fire damaged a building and burned vegetation at the old Northgate Mall.
Witnesses reported the fire, which occurred in the southwest area of the shopping mall. A small area of a vacant retail building sustained damage. An area of adjacent landscaping was damaged also by the blaze. It was all extinguished quickly.
Police found Goebel in the vicinity. His hands black with soot, Goebel was arrested across the street from where the fire occurred. This time Goebel faces open charges on suspicion of arson.
So far this year police have arrested Goebel six times. His arrests were for public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, petty theft, and disorderly conduct.
In 2022, Goebel was arrested a dozen times for public intoxication, probation violations and other offenses. Police arrested him twice in 2021, four times in 2020, once in 2019, three times in 2018, twice in 2017 and 2016, and once in 2015.
