VENTURA : Homeless Woman Is Arrested Over Fires
A 53-year-old homeless woman has been arrested for the second time in connection with fires at Ventura businesses, police said Friday.
After obtaining a $10,000 warrant for her arrest, Ventura police found Diane Drummond, 53, on Wednesday, three blocks from where they had arrested her Sunday, Ventura Police Sgt. Linda Hagemann said.
Police arrested her Sunday because they suspected her of setting seven fires since January, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office said. She was jailed but was released the same day when a judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence against her.
Since then, the district attorney’s office has reviewed the case, and a deputy district attorney said Tuesday that Drummond had been charged in four incidents. Police said Friday they suspect her of setting two fires, attempting to set three others and one act of vandalism.
On Sunday, officers arrested Drummond, who is thought to live on downtown streets, at about 4:30 a.m., outside the Bombay Bar & Grill, 143 S. California St., where she was found near a burning newspaper, police said.
Police found Drummond at the corner of Ann and Poli streets Wednesday evening.
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