La Mesa police announced on Tuesday that they arrested a man in connection with a fire set during rioting that took place in La Mesa in May after a day of peaceful protests.
Daniel Sandoval, 43, a Campo resident who faces charges of arson and vandalism, is accused of starting a fire at the Randall Lamb Associates building in downtown La Mesa following a day of peaceful protests.
NBC 7's Dave Summers has the latest on LMPD's search for people of interest in crimes committed in May during a night of rioting.
The protests in La Mesa took place after the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the controversial arrest of a Black man, Amaurie Johnson, by LMPD Officer Matt Dages, a white officer, near a trolley stop in La Mesa. All charges against Johnson were later dropped.
Police said the fire at the Randall Lamb Building was intentionally set during the rioting on the night of May 30.
Sandoval's arson arrest comes in the wake of two others early last month.
Agents with the San Diego FBI field office released a statement Nov. 3 in conjunction with the La Mesa and San Diego police departments, saying that San Diego resident Alexander Jacob King, 19, had been taken into custody, accused of the arson of the Chase Bank in La Mesa the same May night. Officials said that King was booked on charges of arson of a structure and looting.
Frank curtis
Frank Curtis said this was taken at the shopping center in La Mesa where it shows two people of different races coming together during a difficult time.
Anobel Khoushabeh
A protester with milk on his face in La Mesa.
Anobel Khoushabeh
A protester with goggles in La Mesa.
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Anobel Khoushabeh
A protester suffers an injury to his upper back during a demonstration in La Mesa.
Anobel Khoushabeh
A woman has milk on her face to help recover from wounds following a protest in La Mesa.
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Telemundo 20, Mar Gonzales
Community members come together to clean up the aftermath of the protests.
NBC 7, Ramon Galindo
Locals are seen cleaning up an acupuncturist office.
Ramon Galindo, NBC 7
This is the Randall Lamb building, an engineering firm, that was burned on Saturday night in La Mesa.
Ramon Galindo, NBC 7
This is the Randall Lamb building, an engineering firm, that was burned on Saturday night in La Mesa.
Telemundo 20, Mar Gonzales
Community members come together to clean up the aftermath of the protests.
NBC 7, Steven Luke
This is what La Mesa Chase Bank looked like the morning of May 31, 2020
NBC 7, Ramon Galindo
This is the Union Bank in La Mesa on the morning of May 31, 2020
NBC 7, Steven Luke
Heartland Fire & Rescue vehicle on fire in the La Mesa area on May 30, 2020.
Looters break into the Walmart at Grossmont Center.
Niala Charles/NBC 7
Chase Bank location in La Mesa set on fire during protests on May 30, 2020.
A crowd gathered outside the La Mesa Police Department moments before officers deployed tear gas into the crowd on May 30, 2020.
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Tear gas deployed into the crowd outside the La Mesa Police headquarters on May 30, 2020.
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La Mesa Police deploy tear gas into the crowd outside the headquarters on May 30, 2020.
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La Mesa Police deploy tear gas into the crowd outside the headquarters on May 30, 2020.
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Law enforcement in tactical gear surrounding the La Mesa Police headquarters on May 30, 2020.
La Mesa Police deploy tear gas into the crowd outside the headquarters on May 30, 2020.
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The California Highway Patrol in a standoff with protesters on Interstate 8 on May 30, 2020.
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Moments before the crowd breaks through the California Highway Patrol blockade on an Interstate 8 onramp.
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Demonstrators flood both directions of Interstate 8 on May 30, 2020.
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The California Highway Patrol in a standoff with protesters on May 30, 2020.
Niala Charles/NBC 7
Protesters gathered outside the headquarters early in the day on May 30, 2020.
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Racial Justice Coalition gathered at Liberty Station before a car caravan protest on May 30, 2020.
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Todd A. Davidson
Todd A. Davidson
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Carmen Adams
Armored vehicle in La Mesa outside Sally's beauty supply
The Chase Bank and a nearby Union Bank branch in the 4750 block of Spring Street were destroyed after they were broken into and set on fire.
Also arrested in November was another San Diego man, Ricky Bernard Cooper, 33. Agents said he was booked on four counts of looting as well as a felony charge of arson of a structure.
