WEST COVINA : 4 Youths Arrested in Arson Fire at Elementary School
Four teen-agers were arrested Friday after a fire caused an estimated $200,000 damage to classrooms at a West Covina elementary school.
Arrested on suspicion of arson were two 18-year-olds, Jose Luis Guzman of Valinda and Hugo Soltero of West Covina. Also taken into custody were two 17-year-old West Covina youths, whose names were withheld because they are minors, West Covina Police Sgt. Mark Tedesco said.
The fire was reported shortly before midnight Thursday at San Jose Elementary School, 1500 E. Francisquito Ave. Six special education classrooms in one building were damaged after flames spread from the wood roof shingles and engulfed the exterior. Firefighters doused the blaze after half an hour, Tedesco said.
The arrests were made after a witness saw one youth running away from the fire and recognized him, Tedesco said.
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