Arson Arrest in Santee 

June 29, 2025 – San Diego County Sheriff's Office officials report that on June 28, 2025, at about 6:32 P.M., Sheriff's Deputies and Santee Fire personnel responded to a report of a fire near Walmart, located at 170 Town Center Parkway in Santee. As deputies were driving to the location, a second witness called Sheriff's Dispatch and reported they watched a male set fire to the contents of a trashcan just outside the Walmart parking lot.

Deputies arrived on scene and detained the male suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Ryan Crist. Santee Fire personnel arrived and quickly extinguished the fire. There was no serious property damage at the scene other than the scorching of a trashcan.

Crist was positively identified by witnesses as the person who started the fire. Crist was subsequently arrested for arson and booked into custody at San Diego Central Jail.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Santee Sheriff's Station at (619) 956-4000.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Office