Police on Thursday arrested a man on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in spate of attacks on homeless men who were sleeping alone and sometimes set on fire, a spree that left two men dead and two seriously injured.
(FOX)- Anthony Alexander Padgett, 36, was taken into custody in the morning and after a day of questioning will be booked as the sole suspect in all four attacks, police said.
San Diego Police Capt. David Nisleit said a tip led investigators to Padgett, who was born in the suburb of Chula Vista and was arrested there. He gave no further details on the man or the tip that led to him.
Nisleit said the investigation was in its “very early stages.” He said authorities hadn’t determined if the suspect was homeless himself but acknowledged that investigators searched homeless camps in Chula Vista.
“We have probable cause to arrest Mr. Padgett for these crimes. With that said, we have a lot of work still to be done.” Nisleit said at a news conference. “We still have witnesses we need to interview and locate. We still have evidence that needs to be processed in the crime lab. This all takes some time.”
The spate of early morning attacks came on men who were sleeping alone and who in two cases were set on fire. They left San Diego’s homeless population on edge.