Santa Ana : Fire in Bowling Alley Classified ‘Suspicious’
A fire that burned down a closed bowling alley last week has been classified as “suspicious” by Fire Department officials, who noted that the site has been broken into by transients and youths since the closing about six months ago.
Police arson detective Sgt. Chuck Hindman said investigators have finished combing through the charred Santana Bowl and are now interviewing witnesses and the owners. “I don’t see any motive (for the owners to be involved in arson),” he said. “We’ve talked to the officers who work that area, and they’ve apparently had a lot of problems back there. It might have been a transient cooking something or it might have been some kids. We don’t know yet.”
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Oct. 17, 1985 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday October 17, 1985 Orange County Edition Part 1 Page 2 Column 1 Metro Desk 2 inches; 61 words Type of Material: Correction
An article in Tuesday’s edition about the investigation of a fire last week at a closed Santa Ana bowling alley incorrectly attributed to one of the bowling alley’s owners a statement that the property had been the scene of prostitution and drug dealing. That information actually came from investigators and residents of the area. Part-owner Dave Hirschler said only that accumulated trash and graffiti had caused problems at the site.
Circuit City Stores, a Virginia-based firm that sells home electronics, TV and stereo equipment, had leased the site at 2445 S. Bristol St. and was planning to open a new store there next April, according to the company president, Ken Antos. “I’m not sure where that leaves us but we will open a store on that site,” he said. “We’ll just have to sit down with the landlord and figure it out.”
The property is owned by a four-member partnership based in Laguna Beach. One of the partners, Dave Hirschler, said there have been problems with drug dealing and prostitution behind the defunct bowling alley.
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