On 03/28/2016, at approximately 1554 hours, the Menlo Park Police Department and the Menlo Park Fire District responded to the area of University Avenue, east of Adams Drive on the report of a brush fire which involved a homeless encampment. The fire, once extinguished, was later determined by investigators of the Menlo Park Fire District to be deliberate in nature. Menlo Park Police officers and detectives investigating the incident later developed a person of interest in the case.
Through the investigation, which included collecting evidence and interviewing multiple witnesses, detectives determined that the fire was purposely started by Sergio Anguianolopez, 35 years old, out of East Palo Alto.
On 04/06/2016, detectives from the Menlo Park Police Department located Anguianolopez in the area of Purdue Avenue and Illinois Avenue in the City of East Palo Alto. Anguianolopez was placed under arrest without incident and then transported to the San Mateo County Jail where he was booked on Arson charges.
This case is under active investigation by the Menlo Park Police Departments Narcotic Enforcement Team. Anyone with additional information or who may have witnessed this incident is asked to please contact the Menlo Park Police Department at (650) 330-6300 or the anonymous tip line at (650) 330-6395.
