A man who set up a large encampment on a private property – and then started a fire on the same property – was arrested almost a week after the fact, police say.
According to the La Verne Police Department, a resident reported seeing smoke along a hillside off San Dimas Canyon Road on Sept. 18. When crews arrived, they discovered a large homeless encampment perched in a tree on the private property.
The occupant of the encampment, however, had left prior to authorities’ arrival, La Verne police said.
“Further investigation revealed that the reported smoke was caused by a campfire started by the occupant of the encampment,” the police department said on Instagram. “Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to the surrounding wooded area.”
The encampment was removed at the resident’s request, and a subsequent inspection of the area by the local Fire Marshal deemed it safe.
Officials continued to look into the case and located the suspect on Friday. He was arrested for reckless burning and trespassing on private property.
As of Sunday, the unnamed suspect remained in custody, and investigators are set to file charges with the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office this week.
No further details on the ongoing investigation were released; however, authorities did advise residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity and signs of smoke right away.
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