LOMA LINDA – Video surveillance of a fire early Wednesday morning led law enforcement to a suspect who was taken into custody after investigation discovered he started the fire.
Jason Lincoln Barrett, a 35-year-old transient, was the man shown on video, according to reports, seen using a torch to set debris on fire.
The fire was started behind businesses at Redlands Boulevard and Anderson Street, though it was quickly extinguished by fire department personnel. Later, during business hours, one of the business owners contacted law enforcement with the video.
In the video, Barrett was seen using the torch to start the fire, then departing the area before law enforcement and fire personnel responded.
A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy viewed the video, identified Barrett and eventually made “consensual” contact with him at the Mountain View Avenue and Barton Road area in Loma Linda.
Barrett was arrested at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday after being interviewed by the deputy.
Reports did not disclose the victims of the fire, which had no witnesses at the location when the blaze started.
According to arrest reports, Barrett has an arrest history in Los Angeles County, also having been arrested in Colorado, Connecticut and Florida.
He was taken to Central Detention Center in neighboring San Bernardino, where he was booked on aggravated arson charges, plus a separate charge of causing arson to an inhabited structure. Investigators were still trying to determine the total property losses and damages at the location.
Jail records show he is being held on $250,000 bail, scheduled for a San Bernardino Superior Court date on September 12.
