Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A multi-agency investigation into a 2017 arson fire led to the arrest of suspects accused of intentionally setting a building fire to collect insurance money, authorities said Tuesday. Alan Sosa, 39, Delmy Diaz, 40, and Daniel Garcia, 40, had 10 felony counts filed against them March 25, including conspiracy to commit arson, arson of a structure, arson of property, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and using a device to accelerate a fire, according to information released by the City of Pasadena. The charges are the result of a 17-month investigation by the Verdugo Fire Investigation Task Force. Five people were initially arrested at five different locations during a coordinated search warrant served March 21, authorities said.
The arson fire was set at Kustom Built in Monrovia, 900 S. Magnolia Ave., October 9, 2017. Five businesses were housed in the building, authorities said. More than $200,000 in insurance claims were filed for vehicles damaged. Insurance adjusters arrived to the estimated $4.5 million by including the total loss to the building, authorities said. Sosa is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in lieu of $425,000 bail. Garcia is being held at Men’s Central Jail in lieu of $1.425 million bail. Diaz is being held in Century Regional Detention Facility in lieu of $425,000 bail. The charges were filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. All three suspects are scheduled for an appearance in Pomona Superior Court April 11. Involved in the operation were investigators and officers from the Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Police Department, Arcadia Fire Department, United States Marshals Service, Los Angeles City Fire Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, National Insurance Crime Bureau, California Department of Insurance, and the Los Angeles Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention (TRAP). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONROVIA - Fire officials announced a person of interest has been detained in a string of four suspicious fires ignited in the last two days. The two most recent fires damaged three wood-framed homes, killing a pet cat and causing at least two people to be displaced, said Chief Brad Dover of the Monrovia Fire Department. A house under construction was found fully engulfed early Wednesday, March 6 in the 700 block of West Colorado Boulevard around 12:35 a.m. Flames also caused damage at a neighboring home, which was red-tagged. The front porch of a home was torched March 7 at 812 W. Walnut Ave. Firefighters were dispatched at 12:03 a.m.
A person of interest was detained Thursday morning around 7 a.m. Detectives are seeking information from the person on interest regarding knowledge or involvement in the arsons, according to Monrovia Police Chief Alan Sanvictores. The Walnut Avenue home was occupied at the time the fire ignited. The resident was alerted by a smoke detector. He attempted to extinguish the fire, which extended into the structure itself and ultimately killed a pet cat. The resident suffered smoke inhalation, Dover said. Two minor fires extinguished were quickly determined to also be incendiary in nature, Dover said. The Verdugo Arson Task Force investigated the fires along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Los Angeles Fire Department, Dover said. A K9 search indicated a fire accelerant was used in the fires, Dover said. The person of interest has not been arrested. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONROVIA - A house under construction went up in flames March 6, forcing nearby residents to evacuate briefly, authorities said. The home in the 700 block of West Colorado Boulevard was reported on fire at 12:35 a.m. The house shot out tall flames as the fire consumed the structure, which collapsed during the firefight, according to video from the scene of the fire. No one was injured. Power lines were also compromised and fell at a neighboring home, making the firefight more difficult. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONROVIA - Firefighters are working on extinguishing a house fire early Wednesday. The fire is burning in the 700 block of W. Colorado Boulevard and is beginning to affect structures around it. At least one other structure near the original fire has an active attic fire, according to Monrovia Fire Department radio traffic. The fire was dispatched to firefighters at 12:36 a.m. It is unknown if the home was occupied, vacant or under construction. Power lines have been compromised and have fallen nearby. It is unclear if anyone was injured in the fire. |
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