On August 8, 2015, from 12:30 a.m. to 3:37 a.m., Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) District Police Officers responded to four incidents of arson. Two of the incidents occurred on the SRJC main campus and two incidents occurred in the immediate adjacent area of the SRJC main campus.
At 12:30 a.m. SRJC District Police officers were conducting a DUI investigation on Burbank Circle, just west of Mendocino Avenue, when they observed a dumpster fire erupt behind Little Caesars Pizza located at the corner of Mendocino and McConnell Avenues. Santa Rosa Fire Department (SRFD) responded and successfully extinguished the fire. No suspects were located.
At approximately 2:57 a.m., a SRJC District Police officer was flagged down by a taxi driver reporting two trashcans were on fire near Burbank Circle. Responding officers arrived on scene and found the trash and recycling receptacles located outside of SRJC Forsyth Hall and SRJC Burbank Auditorium on fire. SRFD arrived on scene and fully extinguished both fires. A thorough search of the surrounding area revealed no suspects.
At approximately 3:37 a.m., a SRJC District Police officer was driving on Elliott Avenue when he observed a fully engulfed fire of the trash and recycling receptacles located in front of a residence at 423 Elliott Avenue. The receptacles were directly adjacent to a tree and a motor vehicle. The officer stopped and attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. However, due to the strength of the fire the officer requested assistance from SRFD. A second SRJC District Police officer responded to the location with an additional fire extinguisher. Officers alerted the resident and directed her to exit the residence. The officers were able to bring the fire under control until SRFD arrived on scene. SRFD was able to successfully extinguish the fire. A thorough check of the surrounding area revealed no suspects.
The investigation is ongoing with no one in custody at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to call SRJC District Police Department at (707) 527-1000 or online at https://www.santarosa.edu/administration/college-safety/district-police/report-anonymous-tips/ . Please help the District Police by immediately reporting any suspicious activity or persons seen in or around any of the SRJC campuses.
