Updated March 14 @ 11:20 a.m.
Monrovia Police Department arrested and booked Ryan Dhalliwal, a 25-year-old resident of Monrovia, for arson (PC 451). Dhalliwal was detained early this morning for questioning and has now been arrested and charged for starting the fire at a public book-exchange unit on the 700 block of West Chestnut Avenue.
According to the City Manager’s Update, the investigation is still ongoing.
Starting on March 6, Monrovia Fire & Rescue responded to a vegetation fire on the corner of Chestnut Avenue, a fire to a public book-sharing unit (a Little Library), and a structure fire at the 700 block of West Colorado Boulevard. Then, on March 7, the fire department responded to a structure fire at the 800 block of West Walnut Avenue.
After review, it was determined that all four of the fires were suspicious in nature, and the Verdugo Arson Task Force with assistance from the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, conducted a full investigation and review of the situation.
Regarding the fires, damage was significant to the structure under construction on the 700 block of West Colorado. Fortunately, no one was present in the home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were sustained. During the fire, damage was sustained to multiple neighboring homes, and heat damage occurred impacting nearby cars. Based on the fire situation, the parcel with the structure under construction, along with the adjacent property, have both been red-tagged, and the city already issued a Notice of Order to Abate.
In addition, the fire which occurred on the 800 block of Walnut Avenue was also red-tagged. There was one occupant present in the home when the fire began, and that individual was treated for smoke inhalation while being released at the scene. Based on preliminary estimates, property damage and content loss for all four of the fires has been calculated at over $1 million.
