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Chico man arrested for park arson, prosecutor says | Butte County

BUTTE COUNTY, California. – A 42-year-old Chico man was arrested early Thursday morning by CAL FIRE fire investigators, assisted by investigators from the District Attorney’s Office, on suspicion of setting the Park Fire.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey has identified the suspect as Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico.

Ramsey said Stout had already suffered two strikes.

The first case was a child abuse conviction in Butte County. The second case was a robbery with aggravated assault conviction in Kern County, Ramsey said.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the man was arrested after he was seen pushing a burning car into a ravine near Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Ramsey said the car fell about 20 feet down an embankment and was completely burned, spreading the flames that caused the park fire.

Ramsey said the man was then seen calmly leaving the area, mingling with other citizens present and fleeing the rapidly spreading fire.

CAL FIRE arson investigators responded immediately, secured the scene, and began searching for clues to the identity of the unknown man.

The man was eventually identified and with the help of prosecutors, a local judge issued a warrant for his arrest this morning. He was booked into the Butte County Jail, where he will be held without bail until his arraignment on Monday of next week, according to the warrant.

Ramsey said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information or who was in the Alligator Hole area between noon and 3 p.m. is asked to call CAL FIRE investigators at (530) 538-7888.