Update: Suspect Ruben Valdez Garcia (44) In Custody
On 4-19-2019 at approximately 1:45pm a community member contacted SAPD Communication advising, the wanted arson suspect they saw posted on social media was walking southbound in the 700 block of South Harbor Blvd. Responding officers located suspect Garcia in the 1100 block of South Harbor Blvd where he was taken into custody without incident. Garcia was booked into SAPD Jail for the charge of Arson.
Original Post: Suspect: Ruben Valadez Garcia (44) Santa Ana: Male Hispanic, 5-6, 190, Black Hair and Brown Eyes
On 4-18-19 at 8:47am, Officers were dispatched to assist the Orange County Fire Authority with a fire located at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park, 4800 Block of West First Street. After the fire was extinguished by the OCFA, their Arson Investigators responded and took over the investigation. Arson Investigators worked with detectives from SAPD and determined the fire was an arson. The suspect was identified as Ruben Valdez Garcia (44). Video from the complex shows Garcia walking up to an inhabited mobile home where he lit two large bushes on fire that were located along the west side of the mobile home. The fire spread causing the front of the home to catch fire. At the time of the fire, there were two residents inside who were able to escape unharmed.
Video Surveillance: https://youtu.be/sT5RkL9gRvg
Suspect Garcia resides at the Gable Estates Mobil Home Park; however, has not returned to his residence since the fire and remains at large. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Garcia is asked to SAPD Detective A. Castro at 714-245-8375, acastro@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
