Arson Suspect In Custody After Lighting Three Small Fires North Of Castaic

A felony arson suspect was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly intentionally started three brush fires north of Castaic in February and fled from law enforcement.

At around 6 a.m. on Feb. 28, first responders received reports of a brush fire near the paintball park on the 34000 block of Ridge Route Road, just north of Castaic, said Sgt. Daniel Tubin, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Arson and Explosive Unit.

“Firefighters observed a male in the park,” Tubin said. “That male was temporarily detained by the highway patrol, but (he) managed to flee from them in the foothills.”

Crews were able to extinguish three small fires that scorched approximately two acres with no damage reported to any structures, according to officials.

Through their investigation, detectives were able to determine who the suspect was, and issued a warrant for his arrest, Tubin said.

On Tuesday, March 9, Michael Sulanke, 28, from Oklahoma City, was located and arrested on one felony count of arson, Tubin added.

Sulanke was arrested and transported to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s jail with bail set at $75,000, according to arrest logs.

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