Police Nab Alleged Serial Arsonist Who Set a Dozen Fires in Pasadena Over Past Two Weeks

Pasadena police patrol officers squelched the activities of an alleged serial arsonist early Sunday morning when they detained him next to a trash receptacle ablaze in Central Park.

Authorities say approximately dozen fires have been set in Pasadena over a two week period in city trash receptacles and one fire was set in the back of a pick up truck, all by they believe set by the same arsonist.

Pasadena Fire Dept. spokesperson Lisa Derderian points out that “in these extreme drought and dry conditions even a trash can fire can spread quickly to adjacent structures and vegetation and cause much further damage and/or injuries.”

Pasadena police Sgt. Victor Alaniz said the lucky break about dawn Sunday when “patrol officers saw the fire” and an individual standing next to it.

The suspect, Michael Bell, 56, a transient, was arrested in Central Park and admitted to lighting several of these fires.

Authorities said cooperation between police and fire departments led to an undercover operation and video footage of the suspect setting the fires along Colorado Blvd and various side streets within the past few weeks.

He is currently being booked for arson, Derderian said.