Person of Interest Detained for Questioning in L.A. Arson Fires (UPDATE: Harry Burkhart Arrested)

As reported at the LA Times, a person of interest has been detained and is being questioned in regards to the numerous arson fires that have taken place recently in Los Angeles. Officials said Sunday that they have linked at least 39 fires to those arsons, which began Friday morning. According to LAPD, the individual considered to be the POI is believed to be the man seen in a video police released Sunday in connection with the case.

Los Angeles police this morning detained and are questioning a “person of interest” in the spate of arson fires occurring around the city since Friday.

The individual, believed to be the man seen in a video police released Sunday in connection with the case, was detained near Sunset Boulevard this morning, according to an LAPD source familiar with the investigation.

However, in a statement, a Los Angeles fire official said that “it is too early to speculate if this person is responsible for the spree of arson fires.”

I guess we will know if they have detained the correct individual by the number of fired, or lack there of, as the POI is on custody.

UPDATE I: As reported at Hot Air, The LAPD says that they discovered “evidence and materials” in the suspect’s minivan that leads them to believe he’s at least involved.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives found materials that could have been used to set fires inside the minivan of a “person of interest” detained for questioning in the recent string of L.A. arson fires, law enforcement sources told The Times.

The sources did not reveal details but said detectives confiscated “evidence and materials” that suggest the individual had the ability to ignite some or all of the blazes.

UPDATE II: German man Harry Burkhart arrested and being held without bail and was called by Sheriff Lee Baca as the “most dangerous arsonist in Los Angeles County that I can recall.”

“Our long four-day nightmare is over,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

CBS News correspondent Lee Cowan says Burkhart is suspected of starting as many as 53 car fires over 4 days — many spreading to the apartment buildings above.

Cowan says Burkhart is believed to be the same man caught on surveillance cameras leaving one of the crime scenes – and he’s being held without bail.