6:01pm | Long Beach residents are being asked to assist in identifying and apprehending an arson suspect, and a $5,000 reward is being offered to encourage residents who may have valuable information to come forward, authorities said.
According to the Long Beach Fire Department Arson Unit, authorities are on the hunt for a heavy-set male suspect who was captured on video setting a commercial structure on fire earlier this week and who is believed to possibly be responsible for another arson fire set just blocks away approximately 24 hours later.
Click here to watch surveillance footage of the fire being started.
On May 16 just prior to 1 a.m., the suspect can be seen on the video arriving at 1737 E. Seventh St., a marijuana collective, breaking the front window and then setting the fire. The flames ignite with a large flash on the video, and the suspect can be seen running away with his hands on fire, causing investigators to believe the suspect might have been injured, authorities said.
The next day at about 1:49 a.m., a fire was set at 1441 E. Seventh St., a commercial location that provides assistance to women with infants and children and provides baby food, clothing and other items for women who are pregnant. While there is no video footage of this fire being started, investigators have determined that the two fires could be related, authorities said.
The investigation is a joint effort between the Long Beach Fire/Police Arson Unit and the Los Angeles Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The ATF is offering the $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects.
“Someone knows who did these senseless acts, so I urge all the good citizens of Long Beach who may know something to please call the Arson Hotline and share the information they have,” said Special Agent in Charge John A. Torres of the ATF Los Angeles Field Division in a statement. “We will not let this case go; the individual(s) involved shows a careless disregard for the public’s safety.
“ATF and the Long Beach Fire Department will use every investigative tool available to pursue the person(s) behind these crimes before someone gets hurt,” Torres continued. “This $5,000 reward offered by ATF is just one of those tools.”
Anyone with information about either of the two arson fires is urged to call the LBFD Arson Hotline at 562-570-2582. Those who wish to be eligible for the reward must identify themselves and provide contact information.