Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On April 18, 2020, at about 8 a.m. Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a business on the 39000 block of State Highway 299 in Willow Creek for the report of a possible arson.

Deputies learned that sometime during the night, two fires were lit near the entrances of the business. Using surveillance footage from the business, deputies were able to identify the suspect as 47-year-old Brian Andrew Thomas.

While investigating, deputies received information that Thomas was at a business nearby. Deputies located Thomas and placed him under arrest.

Thomas was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of arson (PC 451(b)), felony vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)) and revocation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)). His bail is set at $75,000.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.