CHICO — A Chico man is accused of setting fire to the pickup of a romantic partner.
At approximately noon Saturday, the Chico Fire Department responded to a call regarding a vehicle fire at an apartment complex in the 2700 block of El Paso Way in north Chico. Firefighters spoke to the vehicle’s owner after extinguishing the fire and learned the owner suspected the fire was started intentionally. They then summoned the Chico Police Department to the scene to continue the investigation.
The victim’s vehicle was a total loss due to the fire.
Police officers arrived and spoke with the vehicle’s owner. They viewed surveillance videos and were able to identify the victim’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Chico resident Sean Clement, as the arson suspect.
An officer conducting a follow-up investigation at a business at the corner of East Lassen and Godman avenues spotted Clement and his vehicle in the parking lot. Several police officers arrived and arrested Clement without incident, on charges of arson. They took him to the Butte County Jail in Oroville for booking.
