A woman considered a person of interest in a Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed a World War II-style bunker in Chula Vista now faces arson charges, officials said.
Shirley Anne Gentry, 54, was arrested Friday after a trash can fire was reported at 5:16 a.m., in the 200 block of Broadway in Chula Vista.
Two other fires were reported within a half hour, both on Broadway according to police.
Chula Vista Fire Personnel led the Chula Vista Police Officers to Gentry who was detained in a restaurant parking lot also located on Broadway.
Gentry has been considered a person of interest by the Chula Vista Police and Fire Arson Investigators since a Thanksgiving Fire in 2015 where a shed near a church was burned in the 600 block of G Street.
Arson investigators allege that Gentry was observed on video at the Salvation Army donation center where two fires were reported. The first fire involved the burning of a mattress on July 12 and the second fire occurred on July 27 which involved a burning couch.
On Thursday, the dumpster located at the Arco Station at 765 E Street was set on fire just after Gentry was suspected of shoplifting and was asked to leave, police said.
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Gentry will be booked into Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility for eight counts of arson.
