Solvang Man Arrested for Arson

Nojoqui Grade - October 30th, 2011

Santa Barbara Sheriff's deputies have arrested a Solvang man suspected of trying to deliberately start a fire along Highway 101 near the Nojoqui Grade.

Just before 1:30pm, on Saturday, October 29, 2011, a witness reported seeing a car stopped along the side the southbound lanes of the freeway when a burning object came flying out of the passenger side window. The witness described the suspect vehicle as a white Volvo wagon and provided a possible license plate.

About five minutes later, a Sheriff's deputy on patrol in the area of US 101 and Tajiguas observed a vehicle that matched the description which wastraveling southbound on the freeway. The deputy immediately began following the suspect vehicle.

The suspect left the freeway near the area of El Capitan State Beach and started driving into the State Park. Two CHP Officers, who were also in the area looking for the suspect vehicle, along with SBSO personnel and a State Parks Ranger stopped the vehcicle at the entrance to El Capitan Beach State Park.

After conducing an additional on-scene investigation, a Sheriff's deputy arrested the lone occupant of the car, 49 year old Warren Clayton Berry, who was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for felony arson (451 PC) and for misdemeanor throwing a lighted substance from a vehicle (13002(a) Health and Safety Code). Bail is set at $75,000.

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