Early this morning the Tucson Police Department Air Unit was responding to a call on the eastern side of the city. While flying over the city at approximately 2:08 a.m., they advised ground units that they saw what appeared to be a house fire in the 5600 Block of East 24th Street. Officers responded to the area and located the residential house fire that the Air Unit had seen from the sky. Neighbors in the area were able to provide informative leads, helping the officers to quickly determine who the suspect was. They were instrumental in helping to locate him as well. As a result, a suspect was in custody within approximately 20 minutes after the Air Unit first spotted the fire.
Detectives determined that 34-year old Marlon Hawkins lit a fire in a storage shed that was attached to the residence. The fire spread to the attic of the house, causing significant damage to residential structure. Hawkins was arrested for 1 count of Arson of an Occupied Structure, 1 count of First Degree Burglary, and 1 count of Criminal Damage, all felony offenses, before being transported and booked into the Pima County Jail.