A 26-year-old San Rafael man was arrested yesterday after witnesses said he set several small fires beneath the Highway 101 overpass at North San Pedro Road. Neighbors and people driving by reported seeing someone burning trash, tree branches and shrubs, then trailed the suspect until officers caught up with him on Lincoln Avenue. Fire crews quickly put out the blazes, which caused only minor damage to roadway signs and nearby landscaping, according to authorities.
The Press Democrat reports that the suspect was identified as Mayckool Steven Carrera, 26, of San Rafael. He was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of arson and public intoxication and remained in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail. Sgt. Justin Graham of the San Rafael Police Department provided the department’s timeline and location details to the outlet.
Arson charges and possible penalties
Under California law, arson can be prosecuted as a felony, with the punishment tied to what was burned and whether anyone was hurt. The text of Penal Code §451 states that arson of property can bring a state prison sentence of 16 months to three years. Longer terms apply for burning structures or forest land, and more serious subdivisions come into play if an inhabited building is involved or someone suffers great bodily injury, according to California Legislative Information.
Local context
Officials note that even modest flames under a freeway overpass can threaten infrastructure and create traffic hazards, so fire calls along major highways tend to get a swift response. In 2024, Hoodline covered another San Rafael case in which a man was arrested after allegedly igniting a vegetation fire in Marinwood, a reminder of how quickly local agencies move on suspected arson; that earlier story is linked on starting a Marinwood blaze.
What’s next
San Rafael police say the investigation is still underway and that prosecutors will decide whether to file formal arson charges. The suspect remains held on the initial allegations, The Press Democrat reports. Authorities are asking anyone who saw the fires or the suspect near the overpass to contact the San Rafael Police Department so investigators can fill in the remaining gaps about what unfolded under Highway 101.
