UPDATE Monday, April 25, 12:01pm | The Long Beach man who admitted to authorities last week that he is responsible for a series of arson fires earlier this month appeared in court last Friday.
Joshua Ethan Thomas, 26, faces 27 felony counts including arson, burglary, possession of a flammable material, attempted arson and attempt to burn property in addition to two counts of attempted murder, according to information provided by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney of the D.A.’s Target Crimes Division is prosecuting the case. He said that Thomas appeared briefly in court on April 22 and that the 26-year-old’s arraignment hearing was held over until Thursday, May 5.
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell said during a press briefing last Thursday that Thomas had admitted guilt during interviews with arson investigators relative to the string of 18 fires investigators believe he intentionally set between April 13 and April 18.
The 27 counts against Thomas, who was arrested April 20, pertain to fires and burglaries that occurred on April 14, 15 and 16, according to the D.A.’s Office.
Investigators said Thomas appeared to grow more bold and brazen with each blaze he allegedly set. Toward the end of the arson spree, which started out with fires set in trash cans, garages and sheds, the fire bug went so far as to enter occupied homes and start fires inside the homes as the residents were sleeping.
On April 16, he dropped burning papers through an open bedroom window onto a woman’s bed as she slept in it, police said. That same night, Thomas allegedly entered another home and set a pile of clothes aflame as a couple and their baby slept. His attempted murder charges stem from these incidents, according to the D.A.’s Office.
No injuries were reported, police said.
The suspect also taunted police, scrawling notes on walls near fires he had set daring authorities to capture him.
Police said they had previously come into contact with Thomas, who has a criminal record including a 2004 criminal threats conviction. his criminal history, however, does not include any incidences of arson or attempted arson.
Thomas remains in custody, and his bail has been upped from $1.5 million to $2.35 million.
UPDATE Wednesday, April 20, 10:01pm | Long Beach police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a Long Beach man who set 18 fires over the weekend, investigators said.
Joshua Ethan Thomas, 25, of Long Beach, was arrested early Wednesday morning in the 700 block of Temple Avenue after being detained and questioned by investigators, according to information provided by Long Beach Police Department Sgt. Rico Fernandez.
According to his arrest record, which has been posted online by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Thomas was taken into custody at 3:47 a.m. and was subsequently charged and booked at about 8 a.m. Wednesday with what Fernandez described as multiple felony counts of arson and burglary.
The fire bug’s bail was set at $1.5 million, Fernandez said.
Thomas, who has admitted to setting the fires, was Wednesday evening transferred from the Long Beach jail to the Los Angeles County Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles, according to the LASD.
Long Beach patrol officers made the arrest after recognizing Thomas by his unique manner of walking. The officers had seen a man with the same gait walking near the site of a fire that was set near Loma Avenue and Anaheim Street several days ago, investigators said.
Officer Matt Whybrew stopped Thomas as the 25-year-old was walking along the sidewalk heading north on Temple, and the two engaged in a brief dialogue. When Officer Mike Soldin responded to Whybrew’s call for backup, he, too, recognized Thomas, investigators said.
Based on their discussion with Thomas, the officers suspected he was the serial arsonist and contacted arson investigators from the Long Beach Fire Department, Fernandez said.
The Arson Unit immediately responded to the location where the officers were detaining Thomas. The LBFD detectives questioned Thomas in depth, acquiring enough information and evidence to place the young man under arrest in connection with the series of fires, Fernandez said.
LBFD Chief Alan Patalano said at a press briefing Wednesday afternoon that investigators knew early on during the string of blazes that they were dealing with a serial arsonist.
LBPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at the briefing that Thomas has an extensive criminal history, having been arrested for various crimes including terrorist threats and weapons violations. Arson, however, is not among his previous charges.
The chief said a motive for the arson spree and burglaries has yet to be determined.
Police previously stated that 19 fires were set, the first of which occurred on Friday, April 15, just after 3 a.m., when a car was set afire in the 1700 block of Orizaba Avenue. Fernandez said on Wednesday, however, that Thomas set 18 fires and that the initial conflagration began in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 14, in the 500 block of Nebraska Avenue.
Over the next several days, another 17 arson fires set by Thomas were reported. With each fire, Thomas grew more brazen, investigators said.
During his alleged arson spree, Thomas initially started fires in trash cans, dumpsters and garages; in sheds in yards and alleys; and on cars. But his behavior soon escalated, and he began scrawling taunting messages to investigators on walls near the fires, investigators said.
At the site of one fire, Thomas scribbled “Delna the arsonist strikes again” in red ink and identified the fire as the 11th set in 72 hours. Investigators said Thomas had a childhood friend named Delna.
The Arson Unit also noted that Thomas used gasoline to start the fires, causing larger flames. Typical fire bugs, they said, normally set simple, smaller fires.
Thomas eventually grew even bolder, breaking into three different homes and setting fires as the residents slept or were inside, Fernandez said.
At one residence, Thomas set papers on fire and dropped them through an open window onto the bed of a woman as she slept in it, investigators said. At another location, Thomas snuck into the home and ignited several pieces of clothing as a couple and their baby were sleeping. All three were able to escape without injury thanks to their smoke detectors.
Thomas also burglarized at least two homes, Fernandez said. At one location, a he stole a cell phone. When the owner of the phone called it, a man answered and told the victim to look outside. “You’ll see a fire,” the man said. A car was set aflame close by about 10 minutes later near Atlantic Avenue and Third Street.
Investigators said their probe is ongoing.
Anyone with information related to this series of arson fires is urged to contact the Long Beach Fire Department’s Arson Hotline at 562-570-2582. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via text or e-mail by visiting LongBeach.gov/police.
Tuesday, April 19, 6:32pm | Long Beach police and fire investigators continue their search for an arsonist whom they believe is responsible for setting 19 fires and burglarizing two homes over the weekend.
Authorities described the suspect only as an adult male, and investigators said they have reason to believe he is responsible for setting each blaze.
The suspect allegedly set his first fire on Friday, April 15, just after 3 a.m., when a car was set ablaze in the 1700 block of Orizaba Avenue, according to information provided by Long Beach Police Department Sgt. Rico Fernandez.
Since then, at least 18 additional arson fires have been reported in the area bounded by Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Avenue, Appleton Street and Atlantic Avenue, Fernandez said.
Garages, sheds, vehicles, trash cans and trash dumpsters have all been set on fire mostly in alleys and yards, Fernandez said. However, in one incident, the suspected fire bug started a fire inside an occupied residence.
Each blaze was reported between 2 and 6 a.m. except for one, which was reported at about 3:45 p.m. in an alley in the 1000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Fernandez said.
Authorities said community members should be on alert and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety at night, including shutting and locking all doors and windows before going to sleep.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity should call 911 immediately, Fernandez said.
Anyone with information about this series of arson fires is urged to call the Long Beach Fire Department’s Arson Hotline at 562-570-2582. Anonymous tips can be submitted via text or e-mail LongBeach.gov/police.