Crime & Safety

Serial Arsonist Strikes Fear In South Bay

The San Jose Firefighters Local 230 union is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person responsible for at least 12 arson fires in the Capital of Silicon Valley, law enforcement officials have announced.

Now the San Jose Police Department has released the sketch of the possible suspect with the hopes that the public will help law enforcement in arresting the suspect.

According to police, the suspect is either white or Latino, between 25 and  40 years old, standing at least 6 feet tall and weighing between 160 and 180 pounds.

Eyewitnesses have told police he wears loose clothing and large-frame glasses and is thin.


On Jan. 8 and again on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., multiple separate arson fires struck a downtown San Jose neighborhood, according to police.

The fires occurred between Santa Clara and William streets to the south and 17th and 33rd streets to the east.

The fires were very serious in nature and had the potential to cause serious injury or loss of life to both residents and firefighters, police said.

Please contact SJFD Arson Unit Captain Christopher Murphy at 408-930-5491 with any suspect information or call 911 in the event of an emergency and reference this flyer.

If you wish to remain anonymous, please call 408- 27-ARSON (272-7766).


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