SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged with arson and assaulting a peace officer after throwing flaming towels at an Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) substation in Stanton and ramming into an OCSD patrol vehicle.

Circumstances of the Case

• On Dec. 31, 2017, Lam was contacted by OCSD deputies and offered assistance after his vehicle stalled on north Beach Boulevard near Orangewood Avenue in Stanton. Lam is accused of yelling profanities at the deputies, declining assistance, and driving away.
• At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2018, Lam is accused of soaking two towels in gasoline, lighting them on fire, and throwing them over the south wall of the OCSD substation in Stanton, causing a marked black and white OCSD patrol vehicle to catch fire and sustain minor burns to the rear passenger door.
• OCSD deputies at the scene utilized a fire extinguisher from another patrol vehicle and extinguished the fire after multiple attempts.
• Lam is accused of fleeing the scene in a dark-colored sedan, which OCSD deputies recognized from their previous encounter.
• While fleeing, the defendant is accused of ramming his vehicle into an OCSD patrol car and resisting arrest.

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Angela Hong, Special Prosecutions Unit

Orange County District Attorney / Case #18WF0024 / January 5, 2018