Calaveras County Deputies Arrest Man Wanted in Connection with Unauthorized Fire
CALAVERAS COUNTY, CA — “With fire season underway and our community still recovering from the devastating effects of the Gann Fire, our deputies remain alert for activity that could potentially put our communities at risk.
On August 21, 2026, at approximately 7:13 p.m., a Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office deputy was in the 200 block of Highway 12 in Valley Springs when the deputy recognized a subject matching the description associated with an unauthorized fire that had occurred in the same area the previous day.
During that incident, deputies responded, and the fire was ultimately extinguished. Additional information on a possible subject associated with the fire was obtained.
The following evening, the deputy encountered a subject matching the description in the same area where the initial fire had occurred. The subject was hunched over what appeared to be a pile of discarded items and a plastic bin. Based on the circumstances and the information from the previous incident, the deputy stopped to investigate. During the contact, the subject became extremely agitated and attempted to elude the deputy, leading to his arrest.
This incident highlights that our deputies don’t simply respond to calls and move on to the next. They remember what they see, retain information from previous incidents, recognize patterns, and remain alert when they are back out patrolling our communities. That vigilance is especially important during fire season.
A small fire, an unauthorized burn, or suspicious activity around discarded materials can quickly become something much more serious. Our deputies are continually watching for circumstances that could potentially lead to a fire and taking the time to investigate when something doesn’t look right.
This incident is a testament to the hard work and vigilance of our deputies and their commitment to keeping our communities safe.
If you see someone lighting an unauthorized fire or observe suspicious activity that could potentially lead to a fire, call 9-1-1 and report it.
We appreciate our deputies for staying alert, remembering what they see, and taking action when circumstances warrant it.”
