At about 12:56 am Sunday morning, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to a reported disturbance in progress at the apartment complex at 90 Pedras Road, Turlock.
Officers arrived on scene and residents pointed out Alissa Cornell, 40, of Modesto, so they made contact with her.
Another officer made contact with the residents, one of which stated that they were inside their apartment looking out their window when they noticed a man shining a flashlight inside vehicles that were in the parking lot. They yelled at the man, who then made a threatening statement. The victim remained in their apartment and when they looked outside their window again, they discovered that their window screen was on fire. Everyone in the apartment evacuated, called police, and quickly put the fire out. That’s when the man fled the area, but the residents noticed Cornell in the apartment complex, who was not fleeing. The residents formed the belief that Cornell was with the man.
Officers speaking with Cornell also believed she was with the man so they obtained a statement from her. While obtaining a statement, officers formed the belief that Cornell was under the influence of narcotics and unable to care for herself.
Cornell was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of public intoxication.
At about 2:22 am, the victim called police again to report that the man who had lit their window screen on fire was back at the apartment complex. Officers arrived within a couple minutes and began checking the area, but were unable to locate him. Right after they called off the search, the victim called police once again to report that the man was back at the apartment complex, this time causing a disturbance and kicking a wheelbarrow. Officers arrived in less than a minute and contacted him as he was running away southbound through an alleyway.
The man stopped and was identified as Edward Gonzales, 40, of Turlock. After being positively identified by the victim, Gonzales was arrested.
Gonzales was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of arson of an inhabited structure or property.
