Arson Series in Encinitas
October 13, 2024 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials report that a suspect is behind bars in connection with a 
series of arsons along Coastal North County.
On Friday, October 11, just before 2:30 p.m., deputies from the North Coastal Sheriff's Station responded to a report of a man starting a fire near N. Coast Highway 101 and La Costa Avenue in Encinitas.
Deputies assisted the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit with the arrest of Winston Cristobal (27) on suspicion of arson, vandalism and trespassing.
Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Detectives say Cristobal maliciously set eight separate fires between September 21 and October 11 near two different construction sites. The sites are located between Highway 101 and the train tracks in the cities of Encinitas and Carlsbad.
Total damage is estimated at more than $700,000.
The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit would like to thank the Carlsbad Police Department, California State Parks, Encinitas Fire Department, Carlsbad Fire Department and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for their assistance throughout the arson investigation.
The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is a regional resource that investigates fires involving suspicious circumstances, serious injuries and death.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
