Investigators Seek 'Person of Interest' in Arson Fires

Authorities are seeking a man spotted on a video who may have a connection to dozens of arson fires set in Hollywood, West Hollywood and North Hollywood over three nights.

Los Angeles police say the man, who they described as "a person of interest," was seen at several of the more than 40 locations where the fires were set.

On a surveillance video released by the Los Angeles Police Department at a news conference Sunday night, the man appears to be walking out of an underground parking structure on Hollywood Boulevard, between Orange Drive and Sycamore Avenue. He is wearing all black clothing, has a fair complexion and dark hair with a ponytail and a receding hairline. Police estimate he is in his late 20s to 30s, and between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall. They said he walks with a distinctive gait.

The video was taken Dec. 30 just before 7 p.m.  The man appears to the far right of the frame. Click on the attached video to view. 

Investigators said at least two people were involved in the arson fires, for which no motive has yet been determined.

Los Angeles Police Commander Mike Moriarty said one suspect was taken into custody, but the fires continued even after that arrest.

The suspect was later identified as 22-year-old Samuel Arrington of Sun Valley, who was arrested by Los Angeles police near La Brea Avenue and Sunset Boulevard about 1:30 a.m. Thursday for allegedly setting a fire in a garbage can outside a 7-Eleven and trying to ignite a fuel tank on a truck, police said.

Arrington is also suspected of being involved in a 1:12 a.m. trash bin fire at 1444 Poinsettia Place and a carport fire at 1434 Fuller Ave., where four vehicles and an apartment were damaged, city firefighters said Thursday.

Arrington, booked on suspicion of attempted arson, was jailed in lieu of $75,000 bail. Los Angeles Police Officer Sara Faden said police believe Arrington is responsible for the first two fires in the series of arsons.

Saturday night and early Sunday saw an additional five fires in Los Angeles and two fires in West Hollywood, bringing the total number of suspicious blazes since Thursday in those areas to 39. Another similar fire was reported Saturday in Burbank, very close to the string of arsons that hit North Hollywood at the same time.

At the news conference Sunday night, investigators said there had been 43 fires attributed to at least two arsonists, with the last definitive one occurring around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Authorities recently served a search warrant at a home in the Foothill Division area, Moriarty said. Several interviews were conducted, but no arrests were made.

Moriarty would not speak on what may be a motive for the arsonist or arsonists, but said the incidents do not appear to be acts of terrorism.

"There's no indication that this may be a terrorist attack," Moriarty said, "but in a post-9/11 world we're also mindful that this could be a precursor to something. This could be a probing action. That is why we need the public's help in this."

Heading into the evening hours, officials reminded the public to take precautions.

"If anybody is at home and hasn't driven their cars in the last couple of days and they find anything, that their vehicle has been tampered in any way, they should contact us right away," said LAPD Commander Andrew Smith. "It's possible this guy has tampered with someone else's car and we don't know about it."

"We want people to make sure their doors are locked on their vehicles," Smith said. "If they have lights in their carport area or their yard, it's a great idea to turn them on—especially now with this individual roaming around out there. Also get to know your neighbors.... Talk to your neighbors. Keep an eye on each other's place. If there's someone strange, give your neighbor a call."

Anyone with a tip about the person of interest is asked to call 213-486-6840 or 213-484-6700.

There is a $60,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for the arsons.

—City News Service contributed to this report.