April 21, 2023 – Imperial County Sheriff's Office officials report that on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at approximately 10:13 A.M., Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a 911 call regarding a suspect setting brush on fire along the Highline Canal near Verde School Road and Hunt Road near Holtville, CA. The suspect reportedly started three separate brush fires in the area and left walking. Imperial County Fire Department responded to the call and determined it to be a 2^nd Alarm Fire. Deputies responded to the area, searched for any evidence, and met with the reporting party. Deputies were able to locate shoe impressions at the scenes of the fires and were able to identify the suspect as 35-year-old, Kevin Romero, out of Calexico, CA.

Deputies conducted a thorough search of the area and were able to locate Romero a few miles from the fires. Romero was positively identified by witnesses. Romero was taken into custody for Arson and booked into the Imperial County Jail.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our community for remaining diligent and reporting this incident. Without these witnesses, more damage and the threat to public safety was imminent.

Source: Imperial County Sheriff's Office