By Gina Yarbrough
Lemon Grove, CA–A man was arrested Saturday in connection with an arson at a motel on Friday in east county, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.
Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson detectives identified the suspect as 39-year-old Carlos Antonio Landa.
Landa was rebooked by detectives on an additional charge of arson to an inhabited structure stemming from the incident in Lemon Grove.
Landa is being held on numerous arson and assault-related charges. Bail has been set at $250,000.
The fire broke out at the motel just after 12 p.m. in the 8000 block of Broadway.
While on patrol, deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation noticed smoke coming from the motel. When they arrived, they found one of the rooms fully engulfed in flames.
Heartland Fire and Rescue crews arrived on the scene and stopped the fire. Several nearby rooms were evacuated as a precaution.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, witnesses reported hearing a loud banging sound coming from the room that was on fire, as well as seeing the suspect leaving minutes prior to the fire.
