Two arrested in downtown San Mateo arson case

SAN MATEO — Authorities on Friday arrested two men on suspicion of setting fire to garbage bins in downtown San Mateo.

San Mateo police officers and firefighters were dispatched to an alley behind the first block of Second Avenue for a report of a fire about 3:20 a.m. Thursday. They arrived to find flames coming from a group of garbage bins. Others in the area were also on fire.

Security cameras caught two men leaving the scene. Police released photos and video of the pair in the hopes someone might recognize them. Before long, police were awash in anonymous tips.

Police identified the suspects as Carlos Cristerna, 21, and Wilbert Ramirez, 20, and arrested them at their respective homes in San Mateo. Evidence linking the men to the fires was found inside their homes and Cristerna was wearing the same clothing seen in the video, according to officers.

Cristerna and Ramirez were booked into San Mateo County Jail on arson-related charges.

The case remains under investigation and anyone with information can contact San Mateo police Detective Louie Lau at 650-522-7617 or llau@cityofsanmateo.org. Those wishing to remain anonymous can leave a tip at 650-522-7676 or http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips.