NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities took a Clearlake man into custody on Wednesday for allegedly setting wildland fires in Mendocino County last summer.
Kevin Louis Benback-Calhoun, 23, was arrested for allegedly starting two wildfires in the Cow Mountain area of Mendocino County between June and July 2012, according to Cal Fire.
Officials said Benback-Calhoun will be charged with at least two felony counts of arson to forest lands.
Benback-Calhoun was booked into the Lake County Jail shortly after noon on Wednesday, according to jail records. He was arrested by Shawn Zimmermaker, a Cal Fire investigator.
His booking sheet shows he's being held on $50,000 bail.
Cal Fire spokesperson Julie Cooley said the investigation is ongoing and further details about it were not available on Wednesday afternoon.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, Clearlake Police Department and the California Highway Patrol's Ukiah office assisted Cal Fire with the fire investigation.
Cal Fire urged area residents to be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start.
If you witness someone suspicious make note of the time, his or her physical description, as well as any vehicle description, including the license plate number. Always contact law enforcement and never approach a suspicious person.
Cal Fire said its enforcement officers work diligently in arson cases to aggressively investigate and prosecute those suspected of intentionally starting fires.
Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the Cal Fire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.
Note: Jail booking logs indicated Benback-Calhoun was arrested by a US Forest Service law enforcement official when, in fact, he was arrested by a Cal Fire investigator, Cal Fire reported.