Arson suspect arrested after car fire in Santa Maria parking lot
August 31, 2026
By JOSH FRIEDMAN
Police officers arrested a man for arson following a car fire in a parking lot in Santa Maria on Saturday evening.
Shortly before 10:15 p.m., officers responded to the 600 block of North Broadway over a vehicle fire in a parking lot. Santa Maria firefighters extinguished the blaze, and officers assisted fire personnel with conducting a subsequent arson investigation, according to the Santa Maria Police Department.
During the investigation, officers obtained information that identified a suspect. They then issued a be on the lookout to patrol personal.
At approximately 11:23 p.m., Santa Maria officers located the suspect, 63-year-old Evelio Torres, and took him into custody without further incident. Officers arrested Torres and booked him in jail for arson of property.
The investigation into the arson case remains ongoing.
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