Full Notification

From the L.A. Arson Watch Joint Task Force

During the early morning hours of Thursday, December 29, 2011, two persons were arrested in the Hollywood area in unrelated arson incidents where four fires and one attempted fire occurred. The arsons involved trash can fires and a vehicle fire that extended to an apartment building. Samuel Arrington 22 years old was charged with arson of an inhabited dwelling ($75,000 bail) and Alejandro Pineda 55 years old was charged with arson of property ($50,000 bail).

During the early morning hours of Friday, December 30, 2011, a series of 17 car/structure fires developed; five in West Hollywood and 12 in Hollywood. Following this series of fires a Joint Arson Task Force comprised of the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was assembled.

In the early evening hours of Friday, December 30, 2011, and through the early morning hours of Saturday, December 31, 2011, 16 additional vehicle/structure fires occurred; four in Hollywood, 11 in North Hollywood, and one in Sunland. An additional car fire occurred in the City of Burbank.

On Saturday evening, December 31, 2011, 8 additional car/structure fires occurred; 6 in Hollywood and two in West Hollywood.

During the early morning hours of January 2, 2012, 11 additional car/structure fires occurred; two in West Hollywood, two in Hollywood, and seven in North Hollywood.

This string of fires has resulted in one fire fighter and one citizen injury; there have been no fatalities to date.

The Task Force has worked together around the clock and is currently reviewing more than 100 clues, mapping out the sequence of the fires that occurred, interviewing hundreds of witnesses, and canvassing the 53 fire scenes as part of this active investigation. Hundreds of investigators and uniform personnel from throughout the City and County of Los Angeles have been deployed to assist. Additionally, multiple search warrants have been authored and served as part of this investigation.

To date these fires have caused nearly 3 million dollars of damage to vehicles and structures.

On Monday, January 2, 2012, shortly after 3:00 a.m., a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to West Hollywood Station stopped the driver of a van near Sunset Blvd. and Fairfax Ave in the City of Los Angeles. The van resembled a description provided by the Arson Task Force as possibly being related to the recent fires and the driver resembled the person of interest seen in a videotape released by the multi-agency Arson Task Force. The driver was detained and investigators with the Arson Task Force were notified. Subsequent to interviewing this individual, he was placed under arrest.

Press Conference - 6:15 p.m., Monday, January 2, 2012

The L.A. Arson Watch Joint Task Force was formed between the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and members of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to investigate the fires set throughout the Los Angeles area and to apprehend the suspect or suspects responsible for these heinous acts.

A combination of rewards in the sum of $60,000 are being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons responsible for these dangerous fires.

We are asking the public to assist. If you see a crime in progress, immediately dial 9-1-1. Anyone that may have information that may assist in these active investigations is asked to call (800) 222- TIPS (8477).

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BRIEFING: L.A. Arson Watch Task Force: Mon, Jan. 2, 2012