A man named Winston Cristobal, 27, was arrested by the San Diego County Sheriff’s department for a series of arson incidents in coastal North County, including Encinitas and Carlsbad. He was taken into custody after deputies responded to reports of a man starting a fire near North Coast Highway 101 and La Costa Avenue. Cristobal is facing charges of suspected arson, vandalism, and trespassing.
The Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit stated that Cristobal is believed to have intentionally set eight separate fires between September 21 and October 11 near two construction sites along Highway 101 and the train tracks. The total damage caused by these fires is estimated to be over $700,000.
The authorities expressed their gratitude to the Carlsbad Police Department, California State Parks, fire departments from Encinitas and Carlsbad, and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for their assistance in the investigation. The Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit, known for investigating fires with suspicious circumstances, serious injuries, and fatalities, is still looking for more information regarding these incidents. Detective Patrick Farber can be contacted via email at Patrick.Farber@sdsheriff.org for any additional information.
Residents are advised to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities in their neighborhoods as the investigation continues. It is essential for the community to work together to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.
