Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Arson In Dana Point
DANA POINT (AP) — Orange County authorities have arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of arson after a fire that gutted one unit of a commercial building in Dana Point and caused smoke damage to 10 others.
Fire Capt. Shane Sherwood says the 27-year-old suspect was taken into custody Sunday following the blaze reported around 4 a.m. at the Dana Point Arts Plaza.
The suspect has been identified as Alex Espinoza of Laguna Niguel.
Officials said they found Espinoza holding a lighter inside the building.
It took about 50 firefighters a half-hour to douse the flames at the mixed office-retail building.
Sherwood says the two-alarm fire caused $300,000 worth of damage to the structure and $150,000 worth of damage to its contents.
No injuries were reported.
Deputies were originally called to the location responding to reports of the sound of breaking glass.
Espinoza was booked into the Orange County Jail and charged with arson and burglary. He is being held on $50,000 bail.
He is expected to next appear in court on September 3.
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