Arson damages two private mail delivery vans, a pickup truck and a utility power pole

MCSO Press Release:

On 12-19-2021 at about 8:45 AM Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to suspicious fire in the 3500 block of North State Street in Ukiah, California.

Deputies subsequently discovered a private mail delivery van was fully engulfed in flames and another delivery van had started to catch on fire.

Ukiah Valley Fire Authority personnel responded and were able to extinguish the fires.

Two private mail delivery vans, a pickup truck and a utility power pole were damaged by the fire.

Fire personnel on scene located a burnt battery powered electric drill under one of the damaged delivery vans were the gas tank was located.   Also observed near the van was a gas can.

The incident was determined to be an arson and Deputies conducted an investigation with the assistance of CalFire personnel.

Deputies were able to view video surveillance which captured the incident and observed a yellow colored vehicle with distinct equipment modifications and a male suspect seen tampering with the damaged van prior to it being destroyed by fire.

The video surveillance footage was shared with other Mendocino County law enforcement personnel in attempt to identify the male supect.

On 12-20-2021 a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy recognized the yellow vehicle depicted in the video footage and had knowledge the vehicle was associated with Steven Ramier.

A search warrant was obtained to search Ramier, his residence and the yellow vehicle with distinct equipment modifications observed in the video.

On 12-21-2021 in the early afternoon, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies served the search warrant at a residence belonging to Ramier in the 35000 block of North Highway 101 in Willits, California.

Located at the scene was the yellow vehicle with distinct equipment modifications observed in the video surveillance.

Ramier was hiding in the residence and was subsequently arrested for the listed violations.

Deputies observed significant burn injuries to one of his hands and he was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.