Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Jon Bush said a man has been arrested and charged with arson in the fire at the Ocean Gate Inn early Saturday morning.
Bush said that the man, 45-year-old Gregory Ayon, was caught on camera stuffing cardboard into the hotel’s elevator door and setting it on fire. Police do not know the motive at this time, as Ayon “did not want to talk” once he was taken into custody.
Guests staying at the Ocean Gate Inn on the corner of Ocean Street and San Lorenzo Boulevard were forced to evacuate due to a fire early Saturday morning, according to a police officer on scene.
Numerous vehicles from the Santa Cruz Fire Department, Central Fire and the Santa Cruz Police Department rushed to the Ocean Gate Inn after its fire alarm went off around 1 a.m. Saturday.
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