A Santa Paula man wanted on suspicion of being involved in a physical altercation with his girlfriend and using her clothing to start a fire that destroyed a shed was captured Wednesday morning after he returned to the scene of the crime, according to a law enforcement spokesman.
Santa Paula Police Sergeant Ryan Smith said Victor Alamillo, 21, was arrested without incident Wednesday morning about six hours after officers responded to the home.
According to SPPD Sergeant Jimmy Fogata, early Wednesday, January 6 at approximately 3:15 a.m. officers responded to the 9-1-1 report of a domestic disturbance occurring in the 300 block of North 13th Street. “When officers arrived in the area they observed a large structure fire to the rear of the residence,” and Fogata said Santa Paula and Ventura County Fire personnel responded to the scene.
The SPPD officers evacuated residences next to the structure, a 12-by-12 foot shed located behind the house that was fully involved in flames. Santa Paula and Ventura County firefighters extinguished the blaze by 4:10 a.m. No injuries were reported.
“It was later found that a domestic dispute had occurred at the location” that Fogata said involved a physical altercation between Alamillo and his girlfriend, “at which point he intentionally started a fire using her clothing with the intent to set an outbuilding on fire.”
At 9:03 a.m. the SPPD was notified the suspect was back. Smith said officers, including K-9s Rex and Jack, set up a perimeter around the house. Senior Officer Paul Spencer entered the backyard and found Alamillo sitting in a chair near the charred shed.
Smith said, “Senior Officer Spencer did an outstanding job in taking the suspect into custody without incident; no force was used... he was able to talk the suspect into surrendering. It makes it peaceful, it’s always a good situation when we don’t have to use force.”
Alamillo was handcuffed and transported to Ventura County Jail, where bail was set at $25,000. Smith said Alamillo was charged with felony domestic violence and arson.
