Man arrested for setting Bear Creek Fire

A man who lived near Boulder Creek was arrested Friday and is charged with setting the Bear Creek Fire.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday charged Marlon Coy, 54, arson, looting, burglary, destroying forests, and causing great bodily injury to firefighters. Coy is in jail in lieu of an $800,000 bond.
He is set to appear to hear charges Monday according to Sgt. Chris Clark, public information officer for the sheriff’s department.
Investigators say that Coy got in a dispute with someone on Oct. 16 and set the blaze.
Police allege that the day after Coy set the fire at 475 Dianes Way, the property where he lived with four other people, he stole a bike and jewelry from residents who had been evacuated on Hidden Springs Road.
Deputies located Coy in Live Oak riding a bicycle and carrying a backpack. When police searched the backpack they found the stolen jewels.
On Friday the Bear Creek Fire was 100 percent contained after charring 391 acres.
Six structures were destroyed and there was one injury.