Wrapping an almost week-long investigation, Seaside police arrested Steven Mark Palmer today as a suspect in starting a fire March 13 in Laguna Grande Park that severely burnt three people, including himself.
The fire sparked in a homeless camp and eventually engulfed it, and a statement from Seaside police alleges Palmer used an accelerant to intentionally ignite the blaze.
Palmer, 52, is identified in the statement as a transient, and is suspected of lighting one of the victims on fire.
He is being charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of arson causing great bodily injury, two counts of assault with caustic chemicals and two counts of arson to an inhabited dwelling. His bail has been set at $2,460,000.
In the past year, two dead bodies have been discovered in the park in separate incidents. Both were identified as transients.
Seaside officials cleared out encampments in the park last summer, but homeless continue to camp there in less permanent dwellings.
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