**Update** Front Lobby opened back up at 10:00 a.m.
COSTA MESA, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2020) – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) front lobby is temporarily closed today until further notice.
Early this morning, at approximately 1:00 a.m., a man approached the front doors of the police department, placed traffic cones at the doors and lit them on fire. A Good Samaritan, who was driving by, used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. The police department’s fire alarm was triggered and alerted CMPD’s Watch Commander.
The man, 32-year-old Claudio Benjamin Vicente, from Costa Mesa, was located nearby by officers on Newport Blvd. and arrested for arson.
The investigation is ongoing. CMPD’s CSI processed the scene this morning so City Maintenance can begin clean-up and the repair of the doors. When CMPD is ready to open the front lobby, an update will be provided.
There is no further information to release at this time.
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Media Contact:
Public Affairs Manager Roxi Fyad
[email protected]
CMPD
