A police undercover operation uncovered video evidence that led to the arrest of a transient, who admitted to setting fire to several city trash receptacles in Pasadena over a two-week period.
Michael Bell, 57, was arrested for starting approximately a dozen fires since April 9 — one that included setting fire to back of a pickup truck, said Lisa Derderian of the Pasadena Fire Department.
Bell was arrested about 4 a.m. in Central Park, 219 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Derderian said.
She said Bell was arrested as he was setting a fire and admitted to lighting several recent fires.
“Cooperating between Pasadena police and fire departments led to an undercover operation and capturing video footage of the suspect setting the fires along Colorado Boulevard and various side streets within the past few weeks,” she said.
Derderian said Bell was currently being booked for arson, in the Pasadena Police Department jail.
“In these extreme drought and dry conditions, even a trash can fire can spread quickly to adjacent structures and vegetation and cause further damage and/or injuries,” Derderian said.