Suspect in Pasadena Church Arson, Carjacking to Appear in Local Courtroom

Michael Monzon, charged with setting fire to a Pasadena church and attempting an armed carjacking earlier this year, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing this week in Pasadena Superior Court.

Monzon, 32, of Alhambra, faces charges filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, including two counts of arson, burglary, attempted carjacking and carrying a dirk or dagger in connection with incidents that occurred in January 2024.

Prosecutors allege Monzon set fire to Dream Church, formerly known as Grace Korean Methodist Church, in downtown Pasadena on Jan. 19 at approximately 9 p.m. The blaze caused minor damage and no injuries were reported. The fire wasn’t discovered until 6 a.m. the next morning.

Two days later, authorities say Monzon attempted to carjack a victim at gunpoint at a gas station in the 1800 block of East Colorado Boulevard.

Hours after the failed carjacking, he allegedly set a second fire in a parking lot in the 1100 block of East Colorado Boulevard on Jan. 21.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Monzon on Jan. 24 in Temple City on unrelated charges. Pasadena Police Department later connected him to the arson and carjacking incidents.

Investigators recovered what appeared to be a fake gun during Monzon’s arrest, which authorities believe was used in the attempted carjacking.

The Pasadena Police Department continues to investigate possible motives for the arson attacks. Detectives are working to determine what drove Monzon to start the fires.

The pretrial hearing will be held in Department B of the Pasadena Courthouse at 300 E. Walnut St. on Wednesday, November 6.