Watsonville police expect to charge a 65-year-old Watsonville man with arson and attempted murder after three people, including the suspect, were injured in a Tuesday morning fire at a mobile home park.
Watsonville Police Department detectives launched an investigation after firefighters found evidence that the fire may have been set intentionally, according to a department social media post. An initial investigation found that the suspect, Duane Hawkins, 65, came to the home and started the fire after an argument. City of Watsonville spokesperson Michelle Pulido declined to comment on what the argument was about, or what the relationship is among the three people.
The police did not release identifying information for the victims; however, the post noted that Hawkins is the person with moderate injuries who was taken to a Bay Area trauma center. He is expected to face arson and attempted murder charges once released.
Pulido told Lookout that the fire was first reported shortly before 7:30 a.m., prompting the Watsonville Fire Department, North Monterey County Fire Protection District, Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County and Cal Fire to respond to the scene.
Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, according to Pulido, and rescued one person inside the burning mobile home, but three other adults inside the home were injured. Two sustained minor injuries, while one sustained moderate injuries. The person with moderate injuries was taken to a Bay Area trauma center and one of the people with minor injuries was taken to a local hospital. As of just before 2 p.m., there was no update on the condition of the patients.
Pulido added that there is “extensive damage” to the residence and that it is uninhabitable.
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