Authorities use sketch drawn by victim to track down suspected arsonist

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Police use sketch drawn by victim to catch suspected arsonist
Bill Ritter has more on how police used a sketch drawn by a victim to catch a suspected arsonist.

SANTA ANA, California (WABC) -- Authorities in Southern California used a sketch - drawn not by a police sketch artist, but the victim himself, to help track down a suspected arsonist.

Santa Ana Police say the sketch is what helped them put James Lawlor behind bars.

Lawlor allegedly poured gasoline on a tent where two homeless people were living, and lit it on fire.

A man and woman escaped with no serious injuries.

The man used his memory to draw the sketch.