(KRON) — A 27-year-old man has been charged with arson after allegedly igniting a grass fire outside of a Santa Rosa middle school on Sunday night, according to authorities.
The Santa Rosa Police Department was first alerted to the suspect, Argenis Mauricio Paez, after he was reported as an “unwanted subject” knocking on the front door of a residence around 8:05 p.m. in the 1100 block of Fenway Drive. Paez, according to police, had outstanding warrants for his arrest, but had left the area by the time an officer arrived.
“Approximately 15 minutes later, while driving north on Burbank Avenue, the same officer observed an actively spreading vegetation fire in dry grass on the sidewalk directly fronting Roseland Accelerated Middle School,” SRPD said. “The fire measured approximately five feet by five feet and was advancing toward a tree.” Another responding officer used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames…