Arson Suspect Arrested, Arraigned for Multiple Pasadena, Arcadia Fires and 5-Acre Monrovia Wildfire Which Prompted Evacuations

Authorities on Wednesday announced the arrest and arraignment of an arson suspect in multiple cases of intentionally-set fires in the West San Gabriel Valley late last year and this month.

On the evening of January 13, both Pasadena and Arcadia experienced a spree of outside fires along the Foothill Boulevard corridor, between Sierra Madre Villa and the Los Angeles Arboretum.

Firefighters from the cities of Pasadena and Arcadia responded and quickly extinguished the fires. Investigation into the fire causes determined that they were intentionally set. Officers from the Pasadena and Arcadia Police Departments, as well as the California Highway Patrol, responded to the area to search for the person or persons responsible, but were unable to identify and locate a suspect.

An ongoing investigation by members of the Verdugo Fire Investigation Task Force yielded a suspect and description, and a “want flyer” was disseminated to local law enforcement entities.

On January 21 at 03:00 a.m., in response to the “want-flyer,” suspect Nigel Letren, 45, was arrested in San Marino by the San Marino Police Department.

Letren was arraigned today at Pasadena Superior Court, where he was charged with five counts of arson related to the January 13th fires, and one count of arson related to the December 9, 2017 wildland fire in the City of Monrovia.

The suspect is currently being held on $425,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court on February 15.

The Verdugo Fire Investigation Task Force is a regional group of investigators from the cities of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, South-Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia, San Marino, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, and Montebello.

“This arrest is a great example of exceptional cooperation between multiple agencies and proven results from our regional Verdugo Fire Investigations Task Force,” Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington said. “The Regional Fire Chiefs and I are thankful for their relentless work on behalf of the communities we serve.”