Somerton arson suspect arrested

The Somerton Police Department arrested a man they said is tied to two cases of arson and one burglary.

SPD arrested 18-year-old Manuel Murillo Wednesday after a three-week investigation.

Police said on April 15 SPD and the Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department responded to a trashcan fire in the 200 Block of N. Bingham ruled to be an arson.

On April 20, SPD responded to a reported theft at Southwest Storage. On April 26 SPD and Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department responded to Southwest Storage again for a recreational fire and a motor vehicle fire, also ruled to be acts of arson.

During the joint investigation, SPD, U.S. Border Patrol, Yuma Police Department Forensics and the Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department fire inspector linked all three incidents through evidentiary items and video surveillance that was recovered from the scene. SPD said further investigation efforts provided information identifying Murillo to the three crimes.

SPD, along with the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force and the U.S. Marshal’s Office executed a search warrant in the 100 Block of E. Spring St. and in the 100 Block of N. Musgrove Ave. in Somerton, resulting in Murillo’s arrest.

Murillo has been booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on the following preliminary charges: Arson of a Structure, Criminal Damage, Criminal Trespass 1st Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree, Burglary 2nd Degree, Endangerment, Theft, Assisting a Criminal Street Gang by Committing a Felony Offense, and Participating in or Assisting a Criminal Street Gang.

SPD would like to thank all assisting agencies for their help.