Full Notification

Joint press release from the Sonoma County Sherriff’s Office and Santa Rosa Police Department:
 
Yesterday the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Rosa Police Department arrested Domingo Bautista-Bautista, 51, a homeless man, for the recent fires along the Santa Rosa Creek Trail and the West County Trail in Graton.
 
On June 14, 2018 at approximately 7:10 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies began investigating four small fires along the West County Trail near Occidental Road.  As the lead fire agency, Graton Fire Department requested the Sheriff’s Office assistance because the fires were suspicious.  Deputies interviewed two witnesses who saw a suspicious person on the trail around the time the fires started. 
 
On June 16, 2018 at approximately 11:55 p.m., Santa Rosa Police officers and firefighters responded to the Santa Rosa Creek Trail near Dutton Avenue.  Santa Rosa Fire Department extinguished 13 small fires along the trail.  Investigators from both departments determined the fires were intentionally set.
 
Deputies heard of the similarly suspicious fires and contacted Santa Rosa Police detectives.  Investigators from both agencies worked together to analyze the evidence and follow up on information from the witnesses.  They determined the same person had likely started the fires in both cases.  One witness was able to identify Bautista-Bautista from a photo lineup.
 
On July 2, 2018, the Sheriff’s Office and Santa Rosa Police Department arrested Bautista-Bautista for two counts of felony arson and violation of probation.  He is being held at the main County jail on $201,000 bail.  It does not appear that Bautista-Bautista is responsible for other fires in the county at this time.
 
Anyone with additional information on the West County Trail case should call Sheriff’s Office Investigations at 707-565-2185.

Anyone with additional information on the Santa Rosa Creek Trail case should call the Santa Rosa Police Department Property Crimes Unit at 707-543-3575.

A reward up to $5,000 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance “Take Back Our Community Program” for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) involved in these cases.
This press release was issued jointly as both agencies are working together on these cases.
 
Prepared by: Misti D. Harris, Community Engagement Liaison
Case number: 180614-006
Media Inquiries: 707-565-3941