By Jim Emerson
NOVATO — An habitual offender in Marin County faces new charges for starting a fire north
of the Marinwood community. Colin R. Crook, 34, a homeless man from San Rafael, was
taken into custody on Nave Drive in Novato.
Callers began reporting a vegetation fire on August 13 shortly before 4:30 a.m. More than 100
firefighters from every fire department in Marin County responded. About 18 acres burned
before the blaze was finally extinguished.
Marin County Sheriff’s Office deputies working with Novato police and the Marin County Fire
Department identified Crook as the suspect. Novato patrol units searching for Crook detained
him after a brief struggle near the Safeway supermarket on Nave Drive.
Crook was subsequently interviewed at the sheriff’s office. In a prepared statement the Marin
County Sheriff’s Office said. “He admitted to starting the fire, where he burned his tent and
belongings, leaving the area prior to extinguishing it completely. Crook admitted that he knew
starting the fire was reckless.”
Crook was arrested and remains in custody in lieu of $12,000 bond. He was booked at Marin
County Jail on open charges for –
Recklessly starting a fire to forest land PC 452 (c)
Delaying/obstructing an officer PC 148 (a)
Crook certainly is no stranger to law enforcement. In fact, Crook has been arrested 33 times
since 2013. His prior contacts with police mostly involved arrests for controlled substances
and drug paraphernalia.
