MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Sgt Chris Hewitt
Release Date: 03/12/12 Release Time: Immediate
Time: 1245 hours Release Number: 1
(Arnold, CA) On March 11, 2012 at approx. 3:00 AM, Calaveras Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 776 Summit View Road, Arnold, for a reported residential arson. The homeowners, Jill Cook and Daniel Hill called to report that Robert Lars Farmer (28) of Arnold, was seen walking away from the house carrying a gas can and a stick.
The deputies contacted Farmer walking on Manuel Road. He was carrying a gas can and stick at the time. Farmer immediately surrendered to the deputies and admitted that he had set three fires, one to a residence, one in the middle of the road, and one in a ditch. He stated that he set the fires because he was upset about seeing a video of his mother on the Internet. It is unknown if such a video exists, or if the victims were involved with said video.
The deputies responded to the victim’s residence where they located a burned area under the rear porch of the residence. Mr. Hill was able to extinguish the fire before it spread. At the time the fire was set to the porch area Ms. Cook and her infant child were inside the house. Deputies also located a small fire nearby in a ditch which was able to be extinguished with the surrounding snow.
Farmer was booked into the CCSO jail on three charges of arson as well as child cruelty after admitting to setting the fires.
