Police arrest woman for binding son, setting home on fire in Santa Paula

SANTA PAULA, Calif. - Investigators from the Santa Paula Police Department arrested a woman in an arson case on Sunday.

On Sunday at around 6:10 p.m., officers from Santa Paula Police Department and members of the Ventura Count Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at Bahia Circle in Santa Paula.

When arriving on scene, fire personnel located two victims, a woman who was tied to a bed and a young boy in another part of the home.

Officials removed the two from the residence and transported them to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

SPPD investigators and Ventura County arson investigators initiated a criminal investigation to find the cause of the fire.

After lengthy interviews with Maricela Magana Ruiz, 47, of Santa Paula, detectives determined she endangered her 3-year-old son by placing a plastic bag over his head and tying his hands before placing him in a bedroom by himself.

Officials say Ruiz' motives are unknown and the investigation is currently ongoing.

Ruiz was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Felony Child Endangerment.

Her bail is set at $50,000.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident in encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Allen Macias at 805-525-4474 ext. 220.