Santa Monica Police Arrest Suspect in Citywide Arson Spree

Santa Monica Police Arrest Suspect in Citywide Arson Spree

Santa Monica, CA – A 36-year-old man was arrested Saturday in connection with a series of arson fires set across Santa Monica, authorities announced.

Between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM on February 8, Santa Monica police and fire personnel responded to four separate fires at multiple locations, where discarded items, a parked vehicle, and public property were intentionally set ablaze.

The suspect, identified as Marco Antonio Rubio, was apprehended following a coordinated response by law enforcement, which included the use of aerial drone technology. At the time of his arrest, Rubio was found in possession of a lighter and an aerosol can.

The fires occurred at:

• 1000 block of Colorado Avenue – A discarded pillow and cardboard were set on fire.
• 16th Street & Michigan Avenue – A discarded mattress was set on fire.
• Memorial Park – Netting on a Little League batting cage was set on fire.
• 1500 block of 18th Street – A parked vehicle was set on fire.

According to police, Rubio has a history of arrests in both California and Texas, including charges for resisting arrest, domestic violence, and assault-related offenses, though no prior arson-related charges are on record.

“This swift and coordinated response underscores our commitment to public safety,” said Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista. “Through teamwork and advanced technology, we were able to quickly identify and apprehend the suspect before more harm was done.”

Authorities urge residents to report suspicious activity immediately. Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact Detective McCoy at james.mccoy@santamonica.gov, Sergeant Cooney at shaun.cooney@santamonica.gov, or the Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427.