On March 6, 2009, at 1:45 a.m., a 2006 Dodge Magnum was set on fire in the 1100 block of 9th Street. Santa Monica Fire Department personnel responded to put out the blaze and concluded that the fire was an act of arson.
Responding officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were able to collect evidence from the scene and pass it along to SMPD detectives. Further investigation revealed Sidney Porter, owner of the burned vehicle and a Santa Monica resident, to be the prime suspect.
Porter was convicted on one count of arson on January 13, for intentionally setting fire to his vehicle in an attempt to collect payment from his insurance. He was sentenced to three years in state prison.
