The holiday season took a dark turn in Novato when a series of fires believed to be arson rattled a quiet community. According to the Novato Police Department, the first incident occurred in the early hours of December 6 when two benches near the Redwood Credit Union on Grant Ave. were set ablaze. The rapid response of the Novato Fire Protection District ensured the fires were quickly extinguished.
Shortly after, at approximately 3:15 AM, another witness reported hearing a banging sound from a restaurant currently under construction in the Nave Shopping Center. Upon arrival, officers discovered another fire in the parking lot. The search for the suspect forced police to momentarily split their focus; they quickly requested backup from the Marin County Sheriff's Office to secure the area.
Investigators eventually zeroed in on 32-year-old Nicholas Tara, a Novato local caught red-handed by video surveillance footage donning a Santa hat while igniting the fires. Despite identifying Tara, authorities initially failed to locate him after searching extensively.
Tara's luck ran out on December 17, when Novato police spotted him walking along South Novato Blvd. and arrested him without incident. He was discovered carrying what turned out to be an imitation firearm. After the arrest, Tara was formally charged and hit with enhanced bail due to the severity of his arson and burglary offenses.
Community cooperation played a critical role in bringing the suspect to justice. "This is a great example of our community working together in partnership to assist with safety," the Novato Police Department praised in a recent Facebook post. Tara now faces criminal charges and awaits trial in Marin County Jail. Local law enforcement continues to urge residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to the authorities.
