Mustang vandalized, set on fire in Santa Maria
Not much was left of the bright green Ford Mustang that was vandalized and set on fire by what investigators believe was a group of people.
Investigators also believe the crime was witnessed by many people because it happened in front of the popular El Pueblito Mexican restaurant, John Deere complex and Walmart shopping center on Blosser Road Sunday night just after 6 p.m.
“Its currently under investigation as an arson”, says Santa Maria Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Barneich. “The report isn’t completed yet, they are still waiting to see if anyone will come forward and speak because there were a lot of witnesses at the scene but no one has come forward to actually to share any information from the witness standpoint.”
The owner of the Mustang was not available to comment on camera about the crime but said his car did have a Donald Trump bumper sticker on it and believe his car was targeted because of it.
He also says he lost most of his belongings and irreplaceable personal items in the arson attack.
“They were able to control the fire within a few minutes”, Battalion Chief Barneich says, “they found that the fire had started in the passenger compartment and had extended into the motor area and that the vehicle was vandalized, severely vandalized, and that it may have been politically charged.”
Surveillance and security cameras in the area failed to help investigators identify those responsible for the crime Sunday night either because they were not working properly, it was too dark at the time or the crime took place too far away from the cameras.
