Deputies: Man arrested for allegedly attempting to set Santa Cruz County building on fire

UPDATE 12/8/14, 12:31p.m.: Santa Cruz Sheriff deputies say 44-year-old Michael Michele of Watsonville was arrested for burglary and arson after he call 9-1-1 dispatchers himself to report the fire he had set a fire in Room #520 at the county building.

Deputies and Santa Cruz Police officers responded and located Michel barricaded in the County Administrator Office. He told law enforcement he lit the contents of metal garbage can and it was on fire.

Deputies were able to force their way in to the office and arrest Michel.

Michele had a set of janitor keys which deputies believe he got after entering the building. He was not injured but taken to Dominican Hospital where he was medically cleared and booked into the county jail.

Sheriff investigators are reviewing video surveillance to find out how Michele got into the building. Damage to the CAO’s office was minimal.

12/7/14:

Santa Cruz County sheriff deputies said a man allegedly broke into the county government building Saturday night and started a fire in one of the offices.

Fire crews and deputies responded to the call about 7 p.m.

Deputies said a man who had barricaded himself in a fifth-floor office was eventually arrested.

A metal bin in the office contained burned material, indicating there had been a fire.

Deputies said it was unclear how the suspect got in the building, but said he does not work there