9:45am | On February 29, 2012 at around 3:30am, the Fire/Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Arson Unit set up a surveillance operation in the area of 10th Street and Long Beach Boulevard. The surveillance captured Ronald Archuleta, a 58-year-old male transient, setting a large City of Long Beach trashcan on fire. Archuleta fled the scene and was captured inside a nearby convenience store by Long Beach Arson Investigators and Long Beach Police.
The LBFD Arson Unit is working with LA City Fire/Arson Unit regarding additional fires in the area of 7th Street and San Julian in downtown Los Angeles where Archuleta said he lived.
The Los Angeles District Attorney filed four arson charges Friday afternoon with a bail of $ 200,000. The LBFD Arson Unit is currently working to prepare at least four additional arson charges to present to the DA next week.
The video will be released today that shows the suspect approach the trashcan, look around to see if anyone is watching and sets the fire. He then flees the location and is captured inside the convenience store on Long Beach Boulevard.
LBFD arson investigators are asking anyone with any additional information on this fire or any other fires to contact the arson tip hot line (562) 570-2582.
March 1, 8:00am | Yesterday morning at 3:30am, the Fire/Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Arson Unit set up a surveillance operation in the area of 10th Street and Long Beach Boulevard.
The surveillance captured Ronald Archuleta, a 58-year-old male transient, setting a large City of Long Beach trash can on fire. Archuleta fled the scene and was eventually captured inside a nearby convenience store by Long Beach Arson Investigators and Long Beach Police.
During the month of February, numerous trashcan fires were set in the area of 10th Street and Long Beach Boulevard. In the past month, there have been at least seven trashcan fires in this immediate area. The fires were set in City trashcans usually between 4:00am and 7:30am. The most recent fire occurred this past Monday February 27 in this same area where three trash cans were set aflame.
The case is active and on going to determine the total number of arson fires Archuleta is believed to have set.
LBFD arson investigators are asking anyone with any additional information on this fire or any other fires to contact the Arson Tip Hotline (562) 570-2582.