The man taken in to custody in connection with a rash of building and car fires has been identified as 24-year-old Harry Burkhart. Burkhart was apprehended thanks to the efforts of part-time deputy Shervin Lalezary. Lalezary pulled over a van when he recognized the driver from a surveillance video near one of the fire scenes, and with the help of other officers was able to arrest Burkhart.
Burkhart remains in jail without bail for what has been called one of the worst arson sprees in Los Angeles history. He has currently been charged with one count of arson in an inhabited dwelling, but the number of charges will likely rise as investigations continue. There were 52 fires since Friday morning, but none since Burkhart’s arrest Monday.
