Soquel Arson Suspect Arrested

By Bob Payne, Lieutenant

On January 20, 2016 just after midnight, Over ten cars were set on fire in the in the area of Park Avenue on Subec Lane in Soquel. Bay Photo, a nearby business provided our detectives with a surveillance video showing a possible suspect, which we posted on our social media pages and released to our local media. Detectives have continued to follow up leads based on the release of the video and photographs. Detectives discovered the suspect was captured on camera at the Metro Center in Santa Cruz, before getting on the bus to Soquel the same evening of the arson.

On Monday, February 1 detectives received a tip, which led them to the identity of suspect, Brian Tell, 44 years of Aptos. Early in the afternoon of Feb 2, Sheriff’s Detectives served a search warrant at the Aptos home of Mr. Tell. Evidence was discovered at the home that linked Mr. Tell to the arson on Subec Lane and Park Avenue. Mr Tell was at the home and placed into custody by detectives and has been booked into the County Jail on multiple counts of arson.

Sheriff’s detectives are still interested in anyone with information regarding the arson. Please call the Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (831) 471-1121 or detectives at (831) 454-7600.