Alleged Hollywood Arsonist Set 3 Fires in 15 Minutes on Sunset Boulevard

Police think they have the man who managed to set three fires in 15 minutes on five blocks of Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood last night.

The fires caused more than $100,000 in damage and sent one man to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Samuel Arrington, 22, of Sunland is accused of being the culprit of all three fires and attempting to set a fourth fire in Hollywood last night, according to the Los Angeles Times. Witnesses said he seemed to be hopped up on some sort of substance.

The first fire was set at a dumpster around 1:12 a.m. on Poinsettia Place and Sunset Avenue. Minutes later, the second fire was set at a 10-unit apartment building near the intersection with Fuller Avenue. The 20 occupants had to be evacuated, a 73-year-old man was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and four cars in the carport were destroyed.

Arrington was caught after he set a trash can on fire at Sunset Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue. Pedro Mejia, a witness pressure-spraying the sidewalks, saw the suspect set the fire. The suspect attempted to set Mejia's utility truck on fire, which would have been a disaster: his equipment contained 30 gallons of diesel. Mejia managed to catch Arrington and flag down police.