At approximately 7:15 a.m. on September 21st, Petaluma Police Department officers responded to a vegetation fire near Hopper Street and Caulfield Lane. During the investigation, officers contacted 45-year-old Michelle Cruz at an encampment near where the fire originated.
Evidence collected during the investigation connected Cruz to the fire. Cruz possessed a lighter and admitted to officers that she had started the fire. Based on the evidence and her statements, Cruz was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of felony unlawfully causing a fire to forest land, in violation of California Penal Code section 452(c).
The location of this incident is particularly concerning due to the surrounding vegetation and the potential for a fire to spread into nearby open spaces. As fire season approaches and vegetation becomes increasingly dry, even a small fire can quickly threaten people, property, wildlife, and natural resources.
Petaluma police officers regularly patrol this area, along with the city’s parks, trails, and open spaces, to deter unlawful activity and address public-safety concerns. Community members also play an important role in protecting these areas, and the Police Department appreciates reports of suspicious activity, unauthorized fires, or other conditions that could create a fire hazard.
Anyone who sees an active fire or an immediate threat should call 9-1-1. Suspicious activity that does not present an immediate emergency may be reported to the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372.
