Dublin Arson Suspect Arrested After Police Chase
DUBLIN (CBS SF) -- A man suspected of setting a series of overnight arson fires in Dublin, including a warehouse blaze, was captured early Friday after a police chase.
Authorities said the incident began with Dublin police officers investigating a suspicious vehicle report in the area of 6400 Sierra Court at around 12:30 a.m.
When the officers arrived, they saw the suspicious vehicle fleeing the area at a high rate of speed. A traffic stop of the vehicle was initiated, but the driver failed to yield and a pursuit began.
The pursuit traveled onto westbound I-580 and northbound I-680 before being terminated for public safety reasons.
A short time later, the California Highway Patrol located the same vehicle traveling eastbound on I-580 near the Airway Boulevard exit. Another pursuit began during which the driver -- 34-year-old Michaelis Brown -- using his vehicle to ram a CHP cruiser. The pursuit traveled into the City of Livermore where it was terminated.
Michaelis Brown, Dublin Police Mugshot
After terminating the pursuit, the CHP learned that Brown crashed his vehicle into the 7-11 gas pumps located at Vasco Road and Las Positas Road and fled the area on foot. He was located and taken into custody.
Dublin police investigators returned to the area of 6400 Sierra Court and found three vehicles fully engulfed in flames. A continued search of the area revealed an exterior wall of AMP Printing's warehouse located at 6400 Sierra Court was also on fire. The Alameda County Fire Department responded and extinguished both fires.
"What we found out was that this was an arson situation," said Jeff Main, who owns AMP Printing. "Someone who was setting fires around the city. There was a car on fire on the next development over burning at the time they set our building on fire. They ended up catching the gentleman."
The alleged arsonist had ignited recycling material stored outside the warehouse. The blaze damaged the exterior of the building and the roof.
"I was told (by authorities) that he (the arson suspect) was in a rented car," Main told reporters. "There were multiple things going on around the city last night...They were trying to figure out where he was."
Evidence relating to the act of arson was found on Brown's person as well as in his vehicle. He was placed under arrest for the pursuit, assault with a deadly weapon, and arson.
Dublin Police and the Alameda County Fire Department Arson Investigators continue to investigate the incident.
