Marinwood wildfire suspect faces felony charge

The Marin County District Attorney’s Office has filed a felony case against a man arrested last week after a wildfire in Marinwood.

Colin Crook, 34, was charged with recklessly causing a fire of forest land. He also was charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Crook was arraigned Friday and is scheduled to enter a plea on Aug. 28. Public Defender David Sutton declined to comment.

The fire was reported at about 4:15 a.m. Aug. 13 between the Queenstone and Ponte fire roads. It burned an estimated 18.7 acres and kept fire crews busy throughout the day. Authorities did not order evacuations.

Investigators found a potential suspect near the Safeway on Nave Drive in Novato. The sheriff’s office said Crook was detained after a brief struggle and questioned by deputies.

Crook “admitted to starting the fire, where he burned his tent and belongings, leaving the area prior to extinguishing it completely,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Crook additionally admitted that he knew starting the fire was reckless, but he chose to leave the area so he would not get in trouble.”

Crook remained in custody at the county jail on Tuesday in lieu of $10,000 bail.