Pasadena Police Nab Transient Linked To String Of Trash-Can Fires
PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — Police in Pasadena have nabbed a transient who they say admitted to setting several trash can fires over the past few weeks.
Officers waged an undercover operation and video evidence led them to Michael Bell, 57, according to Lisa Derderian, of the Pasadena Fire Department.
The police got involved once firefighters alerted them to an apparent pattern of fires being set to city trash receptacles, starting April 9.
One of the reports included a fire set to the back of a pickup truck.
Bell was arrested as he reportedly was setting a fire around 4 a.m. Sunday in Central Park, at 219 South Fair Oaks Avenue.
He was booked for arson.
"In these extreme drought and dry conditions, even a trash can fire can spread quickly to adjacent structures and vegetation and cause further damage and/or injuries," Derderian said.
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