July 18, 2024 – Imperial County Sheriff's Office officials report that on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at approximately 4:21 P.M. (1621 hours), Imperial County Sheriff's Deputies from South County Patrol responded to the area of Pitzer Road and McCabe Road, south of El Centro, to investigate a large haystack fire.

Initial responding Deputies located a male subject hiding in a canal near the fire. The subject was detained and identified as Antonio Jesus Sandoval, a 32-year-old male transient from Calexico, California.

Imperial County Sheriff's Agriculture Crimes Investigators responded to the scene and an investigation was immediately initiated into the circumstances surrounding the arson. Based on evidence located during the investigation, Sandoval was identified as the suspect who set the haystacks ablaze. A records check of Sandoval revealed that he was also on probation in Imperial County for 452 P.C. — Reckless Burning.

Sandoval was arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail for new charges of Arson and Providing False Identification to a Peace Officer. Sandoval is currently being held at the Imperial County Jail and his bail was set at $60,000.00.

This case has been forwarded to the Imperial County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. This remains an active investigation to determine if Sandoval was involved in additional arson fires in the area. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Imperial County Sheriff's Investigator Miguel Verdugo at 442-265-2050.

Source & photo: Imperial County Sheriff's Office