Man Accused of Lighting Series of Fires Along Colorado Boulevard 2 Weeks After Arrests for Alleged Arsons in Culver City

Police arrested a man after he was seen setting fire to several trash cans and a rug as he strolled down Colorado Boulevard on Tuesday, two weeks after he was arrested on two consecutive days for two alleged arsons in Culver City, authorities said.

Brice Tyler Piller, 32, described as a transient, was booked on suspicion of arson following his arrest shortly before noon, according to Pasadena police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.Police first received reports about 11:30 a.m. that a man was walking down Colorado Boulevard, just east of Fair Oaks Avenue, starting fires, Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema said. The man had lit at least two trash cans on fire.

A witness was on the phone with police dispatch when a motor officer passed by and the witness flagged the officer down, Hettema said.

The officer then saw Piller set fire to a rug in front of a rug store, according to the lieutenant. The alleged arsonist was taken into custody.

A motive for the fires was not clear, though officials suspected the suspect may have mental health issues, Hettema said.

Tuesday’s incident resulted in Piller’s third felony arrest over the past two weeks, according to booking records.

He is accused of igniting a “large brush fire” in the 9500 block of Jefferson Boulevard in Culver City about 11:30 a.m. on July 1, Culver City police said in a written statement.

“Piller, who appeared to be suffering from mental health related issues, was subsequently transported to a local medical facility where he was evaluated and placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold,” according to the statement, “Piller was released into the care of mental health professionals at the facility on the afternoon of July 1.”

But he wasn’t held long.

Police responded about 3:40 p.m. the following day to reports of an arson in the area od Matteson Avenue and Sawtelle Boulevard, Culver City police officials said. A fence and some shrubbery along the 405 Freeway offramp had been set ablaze.

“Piller, who was being followed by a witness, was detained by CCPD without incident and placed under arrest for his second arson in two days,” the Culver City police statement said.

Again, Piller was turned over to the care of mental health professionals, officials said. It was not clear Wednesday exactly when he was released.