WATSONVILLE — Watsonville Police are crediting social media with helping them nab a 16-year-old arson suspect who allegedly started a fire at Starlight Elementary School on Aug. 27.
Watsonville Police Sgt. Brian Ridgway issued a press release with a photo of the suspect at about 2:42 p.m.
A citizen saw the press release on social media and called Watsonville Police at 5 p.m., saying that the suspect was in the area of 1975 Main St.
The juvenile was identified and arrested, but the female is still outstanding, Ridgway said.
Firefighters responded to a fire at the school at 225 Hammer Drive at about 3 p.m.
When they got there, the firefighters located a vegetation fire in the garden area of the school just feet from a building. The fire was extinguished and the structure was not damaged, Ridgway said.
An investigator determined that the fire was intentional, and contacted Watsonville Police.
Police then viewed security footage, which showed a Hispanic male and female walking through the gated area of the school toward the area of the fire. The couple is later seen running out of the school grounds by a different route.
Smoke then appeared from the area.
