Arrest made in suspected arson near Dixie fire

A former college instructor linked to a rash of arson fires has been arrested and charged with igniting a blaze on federal forest land, not far from the site of the massive Dixie fire in Northern California.

Gary Stephen Maynard, 47, has been charged with willfully starting the Ranch fire, which sparked Aug. 7 in Lassen National Forest and burned about an acre, according to documents filed in federal court this week.

Maynard is also suspected in at least six other fires that ignited in the Lassen and Shasta-Trinity national forests in the last month.

“It appeared that Maynard was in the midst of an arson-setting spree,” the documents say.

Investigators first encountered Maynard at the scene of the Cascade fire, a July 20 blaze in a remote

Police are looking for a shooter in dark clothing who fatally shot a man in front of a shoe store in the Fairfax district on Wednesday afternoon, then f led in a silver Toyota Camry.

Detectives said the LAPD responded about 12:30 p.m. to the shooting, which followed a dispute among a group of “males and females” outside Shoe Palace on Melrose Avenue, where a shoe raffle had been underway.

The Camry was seen traveling three blocks east of Fairfax Avenue, then headed north on Genesee Avenue. It had a temporary license plate: BC10D32.

The victim was described only as being in his 20s. He suffered a single gunshot wound and was taken by paramedics to a hospital, where he died.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the LAPD’s West Bureau homicide investigators at (213) 382-9470. During nonbusiness hours, call (877) 5273247. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.