Crime & Safety
Mountain View Police Credit City's 'Crime Suppression Unit' With Solving Arson Case
After weeks of investigation, the police department says they've arrested two people responsible for intentionally setting cars ablaze in Mountain View.
By Renee Schiavone and Bay City News Service:
Mountain View police have arrested a man and a woman in connection with three cars set ablaze behind an auto repair shop last month, police announced this week.
Police announced on Thursday that suspects Paul Schonhardt, 28 of Los Altos, and Angela Rutledge, 28, of San Jose, were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of arson and possession of methamphetamine and controlled substances.
The two are suspected of setting fire to three cars at Pedro's Auto Clinic in Mountain View in the early hours of Jan. 13, police said.
At about 3:28 a.m. that day, the Mountain View Fire Department was dispatched to the rear of the auto shop at 1080 Terra Bella Ave., where they discovered three cars fully engulfed in flames, firefighters said.
The fires in the unoccupied cars were doused quickly and no one was injured, according to firefighters.
According to a police announcement, the arrests were made possible thanks to the department's 'Crime Suppression Unit,' along with cooperation from fire officials.
“Not only is this a great example of our collaborative efforts with Mountain View Fire, but it’s demonstrative of — and a testament to — how our City supports crime suppression through the investigation and development of cases leading to arrests,” said Lt. Plamondon who oversees CSU.
Copyright © 2014 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
