Arson charges dropped against 2 Camarillo men
Damage to park more than $50,000
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

NO FUN- The charred remains of Valle Lindo Park's playground will need to be replaced after it was destroyed in a late-night fire earlier this month. Two suspects were arrested but charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Two Camarillo men were released after their arrest on arson charges related to a fire that caused more than $50,000 in damage to playground equipment at Valle Lindo Park in the 800 block of Aileen Street around midnight March 1.

Charges against Ryan Axelrod, 19, and Courtland George May, 29, have been dropped, according to John Vanarelli, a deputy district attorney with the Ventura County district attorney's office.

"We couldn't prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, Vanarelli said. "We could basically prove that they were there where the fire was set, but we couldn't prove which one of them, or if both of them, set the fire. They were in the area, certainly, but that's about it."

Police said no one was hurt in the blaze that destroyed equipment made by Ohio-based toy and outdoor equipment maker Little Tikes.

Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District officials said it was the second time in three years that vandals have set fire to the 20acre park's playground.

Charles "Woody" Woodley, park supervisor for the district, said intruders poured a flammable liquid over the playground equipment and then lit it on fire.

Woodley said the blaze was so intense that the playground equipment was unrecognizable. He said the flames melted parts of the equipment up to 20 feet away from the fire.

"It was unbelievable,"

said Woodley, who has

worked with the park district for 30 years. "You couldn't even recognize what was there."

Woodley said the park district has met with a sales representative from Little Tikes and will submit a claim to the California Association for Park and Recreation Insurance- the statewide organization that offers insurance to park districts throughout California.