Crime & Safety
Arsonist Burns City Hall, Fights With First Responders
He started the small blaze by igniting a phone book.
A homeless man lit a phone book on fire against the old City Hall building Friday night, then tried to fight off firefighters and police officers who tried to pull him away from the flames, Watsonville police reported.
The fire was called in around 9:30 p.m. The first firefighters at the scene, at 250 Main St., saw Miguel Angel Aguilar Murillo in front of an illegal fire burning next to old City Hall, according to police.
Murillo tried to fight with firefighters who approached him, so police responded. He also fought with Cpl. Tomas Corral and Officer Scott Mead but they subdued him and firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire, according to police.
The building was damaged, police said. It appeared the fire started from a phone book.
Murillo was arrested on suspicion of arson and resisting arrest, police reported. He was booked into County Jail.
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