A San Pedro man was arrested after he drove around an Orange County community setting trash bins on fire, authorities confirmed.
According to a release from the Costa Mesa Police Department, multiple reports of trash can fires came in to authorities around 1:45 a.m. Thursday.
The fires seemed to be set at random in the 3200 block of Iowa Street, the 3100 block of Country Club Drive and the 3200 block of Minnesota Avenue, police said.
“After the fires were extinguished, Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue determined the fires were arson,” the Costa Mesa Police Department release said.
Hours later, around 6:50 a.m., officers were called to investigate another trash bin fire that had occurred 40 minutes earlier in the 3100 block of College Avenue.
This fire was extinguished by nearby residents, authorities said, adding that neighbors had begun circulating posts on social media regarding the garbage fires.
Detectives launched an investigation and identified the suspect and his vehicle by using an automated license plate reader.
The following day, the man’s vehicle was found in San Pedro, and after conducting surveillance, officers arrested 45-year-old Shaun Michael Cloonan.
Cloonan was booked on five counts of felony arson to property and two misdemeanor drug charges, law enforcement officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Costa Mesa Police Department Detective Thomas Scott by calling 714-754-5120 or emailing tscott@costamesa.gov