By Lookout Staff

February 13, 2025 -- A homeless man with a history of multiple arrests was arrested Saturday afternoon after setting four fires in Santa Monica, police officials said.

Marco Antonio Rubio, 34, was apprehended after police responded to "a series of arson incidents across the city," said Lt. Lewis Gilmour, the Police Department spokesperson.

The separate fires -- which were set to a mattress, a pillow, a batting cage and a parked vehicle -- "were intentionally set at multiple locations, posing significant safety risks and damaging public property," Gilmour said.

Police used drone technology to identify Rubio as the primary suspect, Gilmour said. "At the time of his arrest Rubio was in possession of a lighter and an aerosol can."

Rubio has been arrested in California for resisting arrest and has multiple prior arrests in Texas, including charges of resisting arrest, domestic violence and assault related-crimes, officials said.

None of the previous arrests on his record were arson-related offenses, Gilmour said.

The fires were set in the following locations:

• 1000 block of Colorado Avenue, where a discarded pillow and cardboard were set on fire.
  
  
• 16th and Michigan Avenue, where a discarded mattress was set on fire.
  
  
• Memorial Park, where netting on a Little League batting cage was set on fire.
  
  
• 1500 block of 18th Street, where a parked vehicle was set on fire.

“The swift and coordinated response by our Police and Fire Departments highlights our commitment to ensuring the safety of Santa Monica residents," said Police Chief Ramon Batista.

"Through teamwork and advanced technology, we quickly identified the suspect and prevented further harm.”

Anyone with information related to this incident should email Detective McCoy at james.mccoy@santamonica.gov or Sergeant Cooney at
shaun.cooney@santamonica.gov or call the Watch Commander 24 hours at 310-458-8427.