On February 17, 2016 at approximately 02:51a.m., Pasadena Fire and Police personnel responded to a fire on the 600 block of S. Raymond Ave. Upon arrival, firefighters found two city trash cans and discarded furniture on fire and determined the cause to be intentionally set. From that location, firefighters responded to four additional fires involving dumpsters in an alley over a nineteen minute period in a corridor four blocks long. The cause of the additional fires was determined by the responding fire officers to be intentionally set.
Video surveillance from the 400 block of S. Raymond Ave. showed two male subjects with skateboards walk up to the dumpsters and each subject is viewed introducing an open flame to trash and debris, igniting the contents of the dumpsters. Later in the day, a witness who was shown the surveillance video recognized the suspects and contacted the Fire Investigator who responded to the location with assistance from patrol officers. Subsequently, Suspect Thyler Trotter of Altadena and Suspect Nicholas Roether of Los Angeles were arrested for the arson fires. Suspect Trotter was booked in Pasadena Jail for violation of PC451(d) (5 counts) and is being held on $250,000.00 bail. Suspect Roether will be charged and booked with the same pending medical clearance. Both suspects will be arraigned at the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, February 19, 2016.
“These two suspects showed no regard for public safety. These fires could have easily spread to adjacent structures. Fortunately fire and police personnel responded quickly and our Investigator was able to make arrests before any further injuries and damage could occur,” states Fire Chief Bertral Washington.
