– by Jim Emerson
SAN PABLO, CA — A man with prior felony convictions was arrested again recently in a double whammy. Brett A. Bisnett, 43, of Eureka, faces new charges for arson in Contra Costa County and vandalism in Alameda County. Bisnett remains in custody in lieu of $650,000 bond, pending a preliminary court hearing on October 16.
Bisnett is suspected of committing arson in San Pablo, where a vehicle was set alight on the 13900 block of San Pablo Avenue. The police and firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire District (ConFire) responded to the fire on September 18, shortly after 4 a.m.
“A vehicle parked within a carport was fully engulfed in flames,” San Pablo police said in a prepared statement. “The vehicle and an attached commercial building were both unoccupied at the time of the incident.” ConFire quickly extinguished the blaze.
San Pablo police detectives followed up leads and identified Bisnett as the suspect. On September 30, a Ramey warrant was issued for Bisnett’s arrest. “SPPD investigators also learned that Bisnett had been taken into custody in Alameda County, on unrelated charges.”
San Pablo police placed Bisnett under arrest on October 3 at 9 a.m., following his apprehension in Alameda County. Bisnett was transported to Contra Costa County, and booked into the West County Detention Facility in Richmond.
Bisnett is charged in Contra Costa County with arson, plus special enhancements due his prior convictions. In his other unrelated case, Bisnett is charged with felony vandalism in Alameda County for an incident that happened on September 29.
