Since November 2012, there have been 21 incidents of arson/ attempted arsons in the City of South Pasadena and 4 in the City of Pasadena. The incidents started as small vegetation fires and escalated to fires involving parked vehicles and one involving the exterior door to a business.
South Pasadena Fire Investigators and Pasadena Fire Investigators joined forces to investigate these fires and identify any suspects. They were assisted by the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force. Several potential suspects were identified and surveillances were conducted. Fingerprints were recovered from an incendiary device that did not burn completely, linking 35 year-old Javier Adolfo Viera, a South Pasadena resident, to the fires. Viera was subsequently contacted near the scene of one of the arson fires on April 20, 2013.
On April 21, 2013 a surveillance was conducted on Viera and he was subsequently arrested for a vehicle fire in the 6100 block of Oak Hill, in the City of Los Angeles. Viera was interviewed and admitted responsibility for a majority of the fires and a search of his home resulted in the recovery of corroborating evidence.
-Courtesy Photo of SPPD
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