Fairfield police on Friday morning arrested a man on suspicion of setting off four firebombs across the city, including one in front of the police station lobby.
Based on similarities between the explosive devices, police believe Matthew Scott Jones, 39, of Fairfield, is behind the rash of fiery attacks.
The first explosion was reported just before 10 p.m. Thursday when Jones threw an incendiary device into the window of an apartment complex on the 2900 block of North Texas Street, police said. The two people inside were not hurt and firefighters responded and doused the flames. Police were called to the scene due to the nature of the fire.
Roughly an hour later, a car on Thames Court was firebombed, said police, who noticed similarities between the first and second explosions.
Jones is then believed to have targeted the Fairfield Police Department on Webster Street by causing an explosion in front of the lobby around 1 a.m. The building itself did not catch fire, KCRA said, but the explosion left a scorch mark on the ground.
Jones' alleged actions were seen by witnesses and he was also caught on surveillance camera near the police department, police said.
Police located the suspect's car around 1:40 a.m. Friday and detained Jones, according to police.
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However, later Friday morning, officers and a bomb squad went to the 2900 block of North Texas Street to search for any additional explosives, KCRA reported. During the investigation, people who live nearby were evacuated for their safety, and some described hearing loud pops, police said. The scene has since been declared safe by the bomb squad and people have been allowed back into their apartments.
And again, just after 12 p.m. Friday police released a Nixle alert about the discovery of a suspicious device inside a warehouse. A bomb squad was dispatched, and police wrote that "the device is located near chemicals that, if ignited, pose a threat to people in the area."
Residences and businesses on Crocker Circle and Huntington Drive were evacuated and people were asked to avoid the area, police said.
Police noted that the device in the warehouse resembled firebombs set off late Thursday. By 1:30 p.m., however, police had declared the area safe and lifted the evacuation order.
Jones is a neighbor of two of the victims and has been accused of "acting erratically" and hurling racial epithets at them, police said in a statement.
He has been booked into Solano County Jail on a litany of charges, including attempted murder, committing a hate crime, two counts of possessing a destructive device, possessing a destructive device with the intent to injure people, exploding a destructive device with the intent to commit murder, and two counts of arson.
Police said the attacks are not acts of terrorism, but didn't reveal Jones' motive. Police are not looking for any other suspects.
People with information about the case can call 707-428-7600. You can also call our Tip Line at 707-428-7345, Solano CrimeStoppers at 707-644-7867, or Text “TIP FAIRFIELDPD” followed by your message to 888777. Callers and texters can remain anonymous.
