The Orinda Police Department made seven arrests during the month of October. Three arrests were made based on arrest warrants. There was one arrest each for the crimes of possession of drugs, sale of marijuana, domestic battery and drunk in public.

Nine burglaries were reported during October, eight of which were auto burglaries. Three incidents of grand theft and one incident of petty theft were reported. Incidents involving vandalism were reported three times. One vehicle was reported stolen, and the police were also able to recover one stolen vehicle.

Police responded to 103 false residential alarms throughout Orinda during October.

The woman that was severely burned during a fire at her home on Descanso Drive in Orinda on Oct. 13 died over the weekend as a result of the burns.

An investigation of the fire by police and fire investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set by the woman using lighter fluid as an accelerant in the master bedroom of her home. A further investigation into the woman’s background revealed she had been experiencing recent personal issues. Investigators believe the woman set the fire intentionally to commit suicide.

Her son who was also home at the time of the fire was able to safely exit the home.

A 43-year-old Orinda man was shot four times in Oakland on Sunday. The man was protecting his friend’s medical marijuana when four men attempted to steal the plants. The Orinda man tried to stop them, but he was shot in the arm, shin, thigh and stomach in the process.

Following the shooting, the Orinda man was rushed to the hospital where he was considered to be in serious but stable condition.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrests of the suspects in the shooting. The police can be reached by calling 510-238-3426.

The name of the victim has not been released.

Acalanes High School is currently on lockdown as police believe a burglar is hiding somewhere in the area.

According to police, a man was burglarizing a home in the neighborhood bordering Acalanes when residents of the home returned. The man fled the scene.

Police have set up a perimeter in the neighborhood and are actively searching for the burglar. Police dogs have been brought in to help with the search.

The school will remain on lockdown until police are able to apprehend the suspect or until the area has been determined to be clear and safe.

Moraga-Orinda Fire District officials had hoped to have the search for a new fire chief wrapped up by the end of September, but they’re well past that unofficial deadline and it’s unclear right now then the district will have a new leader.

The Board of Directors has been meeting with consultants and interviewing candidates for several weeks now. Board President Pete Wilson told me today that the list of candidates is down to three but declined to say much more. The search is being led by consultants Bill Avery and Larry Bienati, who received over 50 applicants for the position. Various stakeholder groups and the board have whittled that number down to where it currently is.

Current Chief Pete Nowicki told me he has not been led to believe they have made a final decision, but added he’s been told not to schedule any more meetings on the issue. He said he would need 3-4 weeks to transfer command of the department to the new chief. His current contract expires Oct. 30, and an extension is on the agenda for Wednesday, so if there’s no announcement of a new chief, how long that extension is could be a clue to how close they are to hiring someone. Under his retirement plan, Nowicki can work as a consultant up to 6 months in a fiscal year, meaning he could potentially work until Dec. 31 since the fiscal year begins July 1.

In somewhat related news, here’s our article about Antioch’s police chief announcing his plans to retire but then come back as a consultant. Nowicki, of course, is “double dipping” as well, and most of the attention focused on the district lately has been on the pension he is drawing concurrently with his salary.

The MOFD meeting is Wednesday at 5 p.m., though it will begin in closed session. It will take place at the fire station at 1280 Moraga Way.

A house fire at 29 Descanso Drive in Orinda on Tuesday was started intentionally, according to police investigators. Evidence of accelerants were found in the home, although police have not yet released the cause of the fire.

A woman and her teenage son were home at the time of the fire. The son escaped the home safely, but the woman required the help of neighbors.

The woman received major second and third degree burns across her body and was rushed to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

The fire caused more than $160,000 in damage to the home.

The names of the family were not immediately released by police.

The Orinda Police Department made 16 arrests in the month of September. Nine alcohol-related arrests were made, including four arrests for driving under the influence, four arrests for drunk in public and one for minor in possession. There was one arrest each for domestic battery, commercial burglary and receiving stolen property.

There were 14 total reports of burglary: seven auto, six residential and one commercial. There were also three reports of grand theft and three reports of petty theft.

Two cases of vandalism were reported, along with a stolen vehicle.

Police also responded to 122 false residential alarms in September.

The brush fire that started in the Orinda hills above Highway 24 and burned 30 acres Tuesday afternoon is being called a possible act of arson by fire investigators. Moraga-Orinda Fire District Fire Marshal Michael Mentink said that investigators believe the fire is suspicious. More than 120 firefighters were used to contain the fire.

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On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Lafayette Town Hall Theatre will be holding a costume and furniture sale to sell off items from plays that have been put on in the past. The sale will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 3430 Mt. Diablo Blvd., not at the Town Hall Theatre. Call 925-283-6673 for more information about the sale.

Orinda Police are looking for a man who has exposed himself to children on two different occasions in Orinda. Danville Police believe the same man exposed himself to children in Danville as well.

The man is described as white with dark hair and eyes, 5 feet 10 inches tall, around 195 pounds and between 35 and 45 years of age.

During one incident, the man got out of a silver Infiniti car wearing a white shirt and black running shorts. The man then exposed himself to three middle school students before leaving the area.

Saint Mary’s students also reported seeing a similar man expose himself on two different occasions.

If you have any information that could help police, call 925-284-5010.

Mark Christopher Litton, the Miramonte High School English teacher accused of having sex with a minor, plead not guilty to five charges against him.

Litton, 34, is accused of having sex with a 2009 Miramonte graduate in July at his home in Walnut Creek. The student was 17 years old at the time of the alleged sex.

The former Miramonte student recently came forward to report the crime. Litton was arrested shortly thereafter on September 10 at the Miramonte campus.

Litton is currently in jail, being held on $270,000 bail, while he awaits his return to court to set a preliminary hearing date.