Man arrested on suspicion of attempted arson

A resident’s phone call led to the capture of a man police suspect was

trying to light an apartment front door on fire.

Police arrested 29-year-old Huntington Beach resident William B. Cote

Sunday morning after arriving at the upstairs apartment of Jay and Darrin

Black in the 16800 block of Nichols Street in Huntington Beach, said Lt.

Chuck Thomas of the Huntington Beach Police Department.

“A neighbor saw him light the front door on fire,” Thomas said.

“Officers got there right away, helped put out the fire and made the

arrest.”

Officers awoke the two brothers who lived in the apartment to get

them out before putting out the the small blaze, Thomas said.

The front door sustained the brunt of the damage, but the brothers

were allowed to stay in the apartment, police said.

The brothers could not be reached for comment.

Cote is charged with arson and is currently in custody of the Orange

County Sheriff’s Department, Thomas said.

His case will be forwarded to the Orange County District Attorney for

review.