Arsonists ignited a fire on Starlight Elementary School's campus, and on Thursday afternoon, Watsonville police released a surveillance photo of two suspects.Investigators were hoping someone would recognize the woman and young man wearing an Oakland A's baseball hat. They were recorded on surveillance cameras running from the school the moment the fire ignited Aug. 27.Within an hour of the photo's release to the media, someone called police, identified the male as a 16-year-old boy, and told police where they could find him. He was arrested minutes later."This is a perfect example of the community working hand in hand with the policedepartment to help make our city a safer place," police Sgt. Brian Ridgway said. Police are still working to identify the female in the photo.The fire happened at 3 p.m. Students had already returned from summer vacation, but they were not at school because it was a Sunday. Firefighters found flames burning in a garden that was just feet from the school's building on Hammer Drive, Ridgway said. Fast-acting crews doused flames before the building was damaged.The blaze was intentionally lit, a fire investigator concluded.Police officers found security cameras on campus that recorded the two suspects. "Upon reviewing the video, a Hispanic male and female are clearly seen walking through the gated area of the school toward the area of the fire. A short time later the couple is seen running out of the school grounds through a different route. Smoke then appeared from the area they were running from," Ridgway said.Ridgway said he does not know what motivated the duo to target the public school. "It's not OK. Our schools are important. You're just hurting the kids, and destroying the few things the school district can provide to these kids," Ridgway said.Anyone who recognizes the female, or has more information regarding this case, is encouraged to call the WPD Investigation Division at 831-768-3350. You can remain anonymous by calling the Anonymous Crime Tip Line at 831-768-3544.

Arsonists ignited a fire on Starlight Elementary School's campus, and on Thursday afternoon, Watsonville police released a surveillance photo of two suspects.

Investigators were hoping someone would recognize the woman and young man wearing an Oakland A's baseball hat. They were recorded on surveillance cameras running from the school the moment the fire ignited Aug. 27.




Within an hour of the photo's release to the media, someone called police, identified the male as a 16-year-old boy, and told police where they could find him. He was arrested minutes later.

"This is a perfect example of the community working hand in hand with the police

department to help make our city a safer place," police Sgt. Brian Ridgway said.

Police are still working to identify the female in the photo.



The fire happened at 3 p.m. Students had already returned from summer vacation, but they were not at school because it was a Sunday.

Firefighters found flames burning in a garden that was just feet from the school's building on Hammer Drive, Ridgway said. Fast-acting crews doused flames before the building was damaged.

The blaze was intentionally lit, a fire investigator concluded.



Police officers found security cameras on campus that recorded the two suspects.

"Upon reviewing the video, a Hispanic male and female are clearly seen walking through the gated area of the school toward the area of the fire. A short time later the couple is seen running out of the school grounds through a different route. Smoke then appeared from the area they were running from," Ridgway said.

Ridgway said he does not know what motivated the duo to target the public school.



"It's not OK. Our schools are important. You're just hurting the kids, and destroying the few things the school district can provide to these kids," Ridgway said.

Anyone who recognizes the female, or has more information regarding this case, is encouraged to call the WPD Investigation Division at 831-768-3350. You can remain anonymous by calling the Anonymous Crime Tip Line at 831-768-3544.