VENTURA : Suspect Arrested in 5 Arson Fires

Ventura police arrested a 37-year-old man Tuesday on suspicion of setting five small fires in the mid-town area, including three at Cabrillo Middle School.

Fire investigators have not yet determined whether a sixth fire, which caused an estimated $125,000 in damage to a downtown furniture store early Tuesday, was related to the others.

“We are looking at that fire to see if it’s connected to the other fires,” Lt. Don Arth said.

The suspect, John Barbezat of Ventura, was booked into County Jail and was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

Barbezat was arrested at Cemetery Park, near Aliso and Poli streets, about 5:45 a.m. after a fire was set in a trash container in the park, police said.

The other fires were set minutes before in a trash can behind Inside Track, 1419 E. Main St., and two trash cans and a trash bin at Cabrillo Middle School, police said. A cigarette lighter was used to start all the fires, Arth said.

The trash can fires did not damage any structures.

The larger, two-alarm fire at Dreamweaver Furniture, 443 E. Main St., also began in a trash bin but then spread to a warehouse area in the back of the building.

Firefighters were called to the scene about 12:15 a.m. and had the fire extinguished in about 20 minutes. It caused about $25,000 worth of damage to the building and destroyed $100,000 worth of new furniture, officials said.

Ventura fire officials could not be reached for comment on what sparked the blaze.