Suspect detained for Los Angeles arson fires
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A “person of interest” was being questioned in connection with as many as 55 arson fires, most started in cars, in a spree that began on Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said on Monday.
Early Monday, several fires broke out in cars and structures in Hollywood and the surrounding areas, said an alert posted on the department’s website.
An unidentified person of interest was detained hours after police released video of a man they said witnesses and security video footage had placed at several locations where the fires started.
“It is too early to speculate if this person is responsible for the spree of arson fires,” the fire department said.
The security-camera video distributed by police at a news conference showed a white male in his late 20s to early 30s dressed in black, with receding hair held in a ponytail.
Since the attacks began, a total of 55 “fires of concern” broke out, including 45 in the Los Angeles area, nine in West Hollywood and one in Burbank, the fire department said on its website. Most of the fires started in cars and some spread to carports and homes.
Police Spokesman Cleon Joseph urged residents to be on the lookout for anyone acting suspiciously.
“Keep your lights on, be diligent, watch your surroundings. If you see anything, call 911,” Joseph said.
Los Angeles Police Department Commander Andrew Smith said dozens of detectives had worked through the night to gather evidence and sift through clues.
“We’ve reassigned dozens of detectives,” Smith said. “Those detectives are now working together around the clock... We’ve got hundreds of clues, dozens of witnesses, and countless pieces of evidence.”
So far no one has been seriously hurt, but a firefighter was treated and released for injuries suffered at the site of one blaze over the weekend and another person suffered minor injuries on New Year’s Eve.
Fire chiefs declined to say how the blazes were started.