2 teens arrested for arson near Ventura-Ojai bike trail

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- A 19-year-old and a 14-year-old were arrested for arson after a citizen spotted the suspects running from a brush fire near the Ventura-Ojai bike trail near Crooked Palm Road Sunday morning.

An alert citizen on the bike trail saw two suspects came out of brush near an active fire on the 4000 block of Crooked Palm Road at 11:13 a.m. Sunday. The citizen called the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and gave a description of the two suspects and their direction of travel.

A deputy located the two suspects within five minutes of receiving the call, according to the department. The two were detained within a quarter-mile south of the fire.

Collected evidence, additional witnesses and admissions by the suspects led deputies to arrest the two suspects for felony arson. The suspects were identified as Samuel Paterson, 19, and an unidentified 14-year-old male, both residents of Ventura.

Paterson was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura. The juvenile was booked at Ventura County Juvenile Hall in Oxnard.

At the time of the fire, the wind was blowing 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25mph in drought conditions.

Ventura County and city fire personnel responded and extinguished the fire that had grown to about 50 feet by 50 feet.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).