WATSONVILLE — A Watsonville woman was arrested Monday after allegedly setting a fire that damaged a Watsonville bank.
A quick-thinking witness is credited with saving the building from more serious damage.
Julia Solorio Carrillo, 31, was charged with arson and possession of methamphetamine, Watsonville Police Sgt. Henry Robles said.
Carrillo
Carrillo was also wanted on a felony warrant, Robles said.
She was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of 25,000 bail, jail records showed.
Watsonville Police and Fire Department responded to Santa Cruz County Bank at 595 Auto Center Drive at about 7:20 a.m. for a report of a fire near the door of the business.
Upon arrival, a WPD officer found a trash can on fire near the rear door of the bank, which had been pulled away from the burning building by the witness who called 911.
Based on video surveillance footage, investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set by a female suspect.
About an hour later, firefighters called WPD after seeing a suspect who matched the suspect’s description near 260 Rodriguez St.
The firefighters followed her until police arrested her in the area of Main Street at Central Avenue, Robles said.
Santa Cruz County Bank Chief Financial Officer Vic Davis credited the customer who moved the trash can with saving the building from serious damage.
“They likely saved us from a lot of damage,” he said.
