Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Fires are universally feared for their destructive and unpredictable nature and can destroy entire neighborhoods if not controlled. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, just before midnight, deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to an alarm call at the Planned Parenthood office. Deputies discovered a fire had been set inside the building. Members of the Ventura County Fire Department responded and quickly extinguished the fire. Much of the first floor of the business sustained significant water damage from the building’s overhead fire sprinkler system; which played a significant part in putting out the fire.

Investigators from Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Bureau, along with Arson Investigators from the Ventura County Fire Department began an investigation. Detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau obtained information which led them to Oxnard resident Alvaro Perez as a suspect in the arson. Through various investigative methods and techniques, detectives developed overwhelming evidence that Perez had carried out the arson at Planned Parenthood. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, Major Crimes Detectives arrested Perez for the Planned Parenthood arson.

Perez is currently an inmate at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility / Main jail on other cases wherein he is suspected of committing the following criminal acts: battery, vandalism, violation of a domestic restraining order, domestic-spousal battery and possession of a firearm. His bail for the arson arrest is $50,000; however, Perez has several open cases, one of which he is currently awaiting sentencing on and there is no bail associated with it.

Under California Penal Code Section 451 P.C., maliciously setting a fire is a serious felony that can result in a lengthy prison sentence. Arson is the crime of intentionally, deliberately and maliciously setting fire to buildings, wild land areas, dumpsters, vehicles or other property with the intent to cause damage.

In California, a conviction for arson of property that is not your own is a felony punishable by up to three years in state prison. Aggravated arson, which carries the most severe punishment for arson, is punishable by 10 years to life in state prison.

Throughout the investigation, detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau maintained constant communication and sustained collaborative efforts with the FBI, U.S. Marshalls Office, as well as Homeland Security.

Investigators are confident that the criminal acts perpetrated against Planned Parenthood by Perez stemmed from an on-going domestic feud and at no point fell into the category of extremism.

Nature of Incident: Arrest of Planned Parenthood Arson Suspect
Report Number: 15-2044743
Location: 122 W. Hillcrest Dr. Thousand Oaks, CA
Date & Time: 9/30/15 11:22 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau; East County Patrol Services; East County Investigations; Ventura County Fire Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Alvaro Perez Oxnard 24
Prepared by: Sergeant Dean Worthy / Major Crimes Bureau
News Release Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Dean Worthy, 805-384-4730, dean.worthy@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith / Major Crimes Bureau

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).