Woman Arrested in Early Morning Fire

A 42-year-old Oxnard woman was arrested on suspicion of arson early Sunday after a Molotov cocktail was tossed at a home in the 1100 block of West Hill Street in Oxnard, according to police.

Josie Jones was being held at the Ventura County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, Oxnard police said.

Police believe a bottle filled with gasoline was ignited using a rag and was then thrown against the home of Robert Mario Jimenez.

Witnesses told police they saw a woman who matched the description of Jones attempt to reignite the flammable liquid alongside Jimenez’s home and then flee the area about 5:15 a.m.

Jimenez told police he had recently received threats from Jones, though authorities would not characterize their relationship.

Officials contacted Jones at her home and discovered items that could be used to make a Molotov cocktail. She also was being held on suspicion of possession of an incendiary device with intent to commit arson.

No one was injured in the fire and only minor damage to Jimenez’s home was reported.

About six hours earlier, a fire was reported at a single-family house in the 2900 block of Paula Street in Oxnard. The blaze was caused by grease buildup in a vent above a stove and heat from an oven, said Oxnard Fire Battalion Chief Clarence Slayton.

No one was home at the time of the fire, which caused about $8,000 in damage, mainly to the attic space above the kitchen, Slayton said.