Man Arrested For Setting Port Hueneme City Vehicle On Fire With Two Employees Inside

Tuesday February 14, 2023

(Photos courtesy PHPD)

     Updated--Port Hueneme police say they've arrested a man for setting a city vehicle on fire while two employees were inside.

     It happened Monday afternoon shortly after 4 near the baseball fields in Bubbling Springs Park in the 1100 block of Park Avenue.

     Police say the suspect was disturbing adults and children when he jumped into the bed of a city utility truck and set it on fire.

     The two employees who were inside were able to escape without injury and used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

     Meanwhile, when police arrived, witnesses pointed out the suspect as he fled eastbound on Bard Road crossing "J" Street.

     There was a foot pursuit as the suspect ran from Port Hueneme into Oxnard north on "G" Street.

     Officers finally caught him on Grant Way.

     They say 31-year-old Robert Lopez Jr. of Oxnard was taken into custody for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Felony Vandalism, and Arson.

     Police say Lopez has a number of prior arrests and is listed as a serious habitual offender in the Ventura County Jail system.

     He was just released from jail a week ago on his own recognizance after being arrested for resisting arrest and is now back behind bars in the arson case with bail set at $50,000.