An early morning vandal left four vehicles on fire and another eight with their tires slashed at the Fig Tree Apartments on Leslie Lane Saturday morning, in an act that police officials said may have been gang-related.

Hanford Police officers were called to the 900 block of Leslie Lane just after 1:30 a.m. to a report of a vehicle fire, but what they found were several vehicles burning and vandalized, according to an official police report. Witnesses in the area apparently identified a possible suspect who was seen in the area just prior to the fires.

Investigators located Hanford resident Carlos John Quair, 26, a short distance away near the intersection of Davis and Grant streets. Quair matched the descriptions given by witnesses, but when officers tried to stop and question him, he reportedly fled on foot.

He was apprehended a short distance away. Police officials say that evidence found both in his possession and at the scene of the crime linked him to the incident.

Quair was arrested and booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of four counts of arson, eight counts of vandalism, burglary, resisting a public officer, committing arson with a prior arson conviction and a gang enhancement.

His bail was set at $425,000.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Nov. 17, 2008)