A transient man ended in the Santa Clara County Jail early
Sunday morning for allegedly setting fire to a business on Railroad
Avenue.
A transient man ended in the Santa Clara County Jail early Sunday morning for allegedly setting fire to a business on Railroad Avenue.
Mark Johnson, 48, was charged with arson and a parole violation. He was taken to county jail. Johnson told police he started the fire in the rear of Roses 4 U at 16500 Railroad Ave. just after midnight Sunday. Santa Clara County Fire quickly responded to the blaze after reports of explosions and flames at the business and quickly extinguished the fire, MHPD Chief Bruce Cumming said Monday. Officers found a pile of furniture and other items on fire near several fuel storage tanks, vehicles and construction equipment.
“Alcohol may have played a role in the incident,” Cumming said. “Mr. Johnson told officers that the owner of the business asked him to dispose of some debris on the property, so he and a friend, Tim, took an end table and packed it with newspaper, poured gasoline on it and lit it. Mr. Johnson said his friend, Tim, threw aerosol cans on the fire, which exploded, and Tim ran away.”
When officers arrived, Cumming said, Officer Kyle Christensen found Johnson hiding under a bush nearby. The report said officers suspected Johnson had been drinking alcohol.
No one was injured in the incident.
