Suspect Accused of 4 Pasadena Arsons, Hammer Attack Denies Charges

A man accused of a series of setting four fires near the 210 Freeway corridor through Pasadena last month, as well as attacking another man with a hammer, pleaded not guilty Monday to five criminal charges, records show.

David William Powell, 40, of Houston, Texas, pleaded not guilty to four counts of arson and one count of attempted murder during his appearance in the Pasadena Branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to court records.

He was scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing setting on Nov. 30.

He’s accused of setting four fires and beating another man with a hammer within the span of two hours on Oct. 17, according to Pasadena Police Department officials.

The string of crimes began around 6 p.m., when two residential fires broke out nearly simultaneously at Corson Street and Chester Avenue, as well as at Corson Street and Holliston Avenue, just down the road. The fires resulted in significant damage, but no injuries.

About the same time, police responded to a report of a man being attacked with a hammer in the area of Corson Street and Allen Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Sean Dawkins said. He was treated for serious injuries to his head and neck.

Two more fires then broke out in the 700 block of East Walnut Street and in the 1800 block or Locust Street, authorities said. Those two fires remained relatively small and caused minor damage.

The suspect, later identified as Powell, was spotted by officers in the area and was detained after trying to run away, according to Dawkins. He was ultimately linked to all four fires, as well as the assault.

A motive was not clear.

Man Arrested in Connection With 4 Pasadena Arsons, Hammer Attack