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Suspect In Massive Da Vinci Apartment Fire Pleads Not Guilty To Arson Charges

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man accused of starting a massive fire at an apartment complex in downtown Los Angeles pleaded not guilty to arson charges Thursday.

Dawud Abdulwali, 56, was arrested on an unrelated charge during a traffic stop Tuesday and was connected to the Dec. 8, 2014, fire at the 1.3 million-square-foot Da Vinci apartments at 900 W. Temple St.

Downtown Apt Fire
(credit: CBS)

Abdulwali faces charges of aggravated arson and arson of a structure, the District Attorney's Office said.

The judge raised his bail from $500,000 to $1 million.

The prosecution argued Abdulwali was a flight risk and that he allegedly told a friend two weeks ago that he was "ready to leave the country." He has a long conviction record of burglary, gun possession, assault and petty theft.

If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in state prison.

The fire, which investigators say started on the fourth floor with an accelerant, caused an estimated $90 million in damage to the seven-story apartment complex, which was destroyed, as well as a nearby high-rise and a portion of the Harbor (110) Freeway.

Da Vinci Apartment Fire
Firefighters douse flames at the remains of the DaVinci apartment complex after a fire destroyed the 1 million square foot site, in Los Angeles, California, December 8, 2014. A pair of massive fires burst across the Los Angeles skyline early Monday, damaging four buildings and closing down freeways during the morning commute. (credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Fire Department, ATF and the LAPD spent thousands of hours on the investigation and interviewed more than 200 people.

"It was really a team effort," LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Downing said. "No one entity could have done it by themselves. It was a compilation of thousands of hours of investigation."

They said they have both physical and electronic evidence connected Abdulwali to the scene, including video surveillance, which has not been released.

Downing says investigators have been following Abdulwali for weeks.

No public tips directly led officials to the suspect; therefore, no one will receive the $170,000 reward offered.

Abdulwali's real name is "Timothy Roston," but he changed his name while serving jail time in Phoenix for gun possession, according to several sources.

Abdulwali
(creditL CBS)

Research conducted by CBS2 revealed a Timothy Roston with the same birth date has a criminal background in California, which includes credit card forgery, vehicle theft and fraud.

Authorities believe Abdulwali acted alone and they don't have a motive for the alleged crime. They said he has no ties to the owners of the complex.

"Was there any kind of hint that he's part of a terrorist group or he did this as a terrorist act?" CBS2/KCAL9's Dave Lopez said to Downing.

"No, not at this time," he replied.

Abdulwali is due back in court June 11.

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