Long Beach Police Arrest Serial Arson Suspect

A 25-year-old Long Beach man was arrested Wednesday near Temple Avenue and Seventh Street as a suspect in at least 18 arson fires that have been set in less than a week. Police say the suspect also took credit for one fire where he allegedly left behind a note.

The same suspect also burglarized several properties he burned, and he set at least two fires while inside homes where people were sleeping.

Joshua Ethan Thomas was walking down Temple Avenue near 7th Street Wednesday morning when an officer recalled that he'd also seen him in the area of one of the fires over the weekend, said Sgt. Rico Fernandez.

The officer summoned Long Beach Fire arson investigators, who  interviewed Thomas and established there was sufficient evidence to arrest him, said Fernandez, spokesman for the police department.

At a press conference earlier, Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell and Long Beach Fire Chief Alan Patalano announced the arrest and offered more details about the case.

"Delna the arsonist strikes again, 11th fire set in 72 hours, date: 4-16-11,"read one note left at a fire scene.  According to Long Beach Fire Dept. Capt. Pat Wells, Delna is a female friend from childhood.

The series of 18 fires Thomas is accused of setting started at 3 a.m. Friday when a car was set on fire. But other things that were burned included vehicles, homes, sheds and trash bins, Fernandez said. On two occasions, residents were home sleeping when Thomas broke in and set fires, Fernandez said.

Thomas was booked on multiple acts of arson and burglary and is being held at the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail, according to jail records, which also said a court date had not been set.

Anyone with information on any suspicious fires or crimes with which Thomas may have been involved was asked to call the Long Beach Fire Department's Arson hotline at (562) 570-2582. Tipsters can also contact Long Beach police by email at www.longbeach.gov/police. All tips can be made anonymously.