Santa Maria man arrested for arson and vandalism

A Santa Maria man has been booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of arson and vandalism, according to Santa Maria Police.

The booking comes after what police determined early Tuesday morning were several related incidents on and around South Broadway in Santa Maria.

Officials report that SMPD and the Santa Maria Fire Department responded to a fire in the 1900 block of South Broadway at 12:09 a.m. Tuesday.

Police say the fire was located in a vacant commercial building and was safely extinguished after the area was secured.

During the investigation, officials say SMPD officers and an arsonist from the Santa Maria Fire Department discovered a second fire that had started around the same time. Police said the fire was located behind an occupied convenience store just south of the first fire and was self-extinguishing.

At 2:35 a.m. that same morning, officers said they received reports that a large store window had been shattered at a commercial building on the 1600 block of South Broadway.

SMPD reports that by looking at video surveillance footage, they were able to identify the vandalism suspect as 33-year-old Santa Maria resident Martin Rodriguez.

Officers found the suspect loitering near the scene of the first fire and arrested him on charges of vandalism.

Rodriguez was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on vandalism charges, according to SMPD.

Authorities also said they encountered Rodriguez earlier that evening at the building fire, where officers saw him answering first responders.

After interviewing witnesses, analyzing video surveillance and examining the crime scene, detectives from the SMPD and an arson investigator from the Santa Maria Fire Department reportedly had probable cause to arrest the suspect for both counts of arson.

On Wednesday, SMPD says Rodriguez, who was already in custody for vandalism, has been charged with additional arson.

Police say anyone with information about this case or other investigation is encouraged to call Detective Servin at (805) 928-3781, ext. 1367. Community members can also call SMPD’s 24/7 anonymous tip line at (805) 928–3781, ext. 2677.