Man Charged with Multiple Crimes Including Church Arson, Attempted Carjacking in Pasadena

A 32-year-old Alhambra resident, Michael Monzon, has been charged with multiple crimes, including arson and attempted carjacking, according to the Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

On January 20, 2024, PPD and Pasadena Fire Department personnel responded to a call at Dream Church on East Colorado Blvd. Although no active fire was found, evidence of two apparently self-extinguished fires inside the church led to the deployment of arson investigators. 

Surveillance footage revealed a male suspect intentionally started the fires on January 19, according to authorities.

In the early hours of January 21, an attempted carjacking occurred at a gas station on East Colorado Blvd. 

The armed suspect, later identified by authorities as Monzon, fled before officers arrived. 

Later that morning, police and firefighters responded to another fire call in a parking lot behind a business on East Colorado Blvd. The fire, which was quickly extinguished, was deemed suspicious.

The Pasadena Police Dept. Robbery/Homicide Unit, which includes an arson investigator, determined that the same suspect committed all three crimes. 

Monzon was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in Temple City on unrelated charges on January 24.

Police recovered property reportedly belonging to Monzon, including a makeshift object allegedly constructed to resemble a firearm. 

The motive for the fires remains unknown.

On January 26, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Monzon with arson, burglary, attempted carjacking, and carrying a dirk or dagger.

Bail was set at $225,000, police said.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626)- 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS

(8477), via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google Play or the

Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.