In a significant breakthrough, the Los Angeles Police Department has detained a person believed to be the notorious serial arsonist responsible for a spate of vehicle fires in Tujunga. The suspect, identified as Guadalupe Resendiz, was apprehended following a joint effort between the LAPD and LA City Fire, who have been diligently investigating the escalating incidents over the past few weeks.
Investigators had been meticulously examining around two dozen cases, with a notable increase in fire-related incidents occurring in late May. This weekend alone, fire personnel responded to two separate incidents, further heightening concerns among residents in the Sunland-Tujunga area. Today, as emergency responders were attending to a car fire on Haines Canyon Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, reports of yet another vehicle engulfed in flames reached them, this time on Greeley Street and Pinewood Avenue.
It was at the scene of the latter incident that LAPD officers successfully detained an individual on a bicycle, who appeared to be shadowing the burning car after setting it ablaze on Haines. The unfolding events were captured on a Ring video, which clearly showed the suspect stopping his bike, placing a bottle on a blue truck, igniting it, and swiftly departing. This modus operandi mirrored the patterns observed in previous security footage shared during our previous coverage.
Relief swept through the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council, as Lydia Grant expressed her gratitude, stating, “Such a relief.” Grant, who has been tirelessly working to keep the community informed, echoed the sentiments of the area’s residents, who are hopeful that the suspect in custody will bring an end to the frightening string of fires. With growing concerns about the potential for harm, Grant emphasized, “It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is urging anyone with relevant information about the recent fires to come forward. They can contact the LAFD Arson Unit at 213-893-9850 or via email at LAFDArson@lacity.org. As the investigation continues, the apprehension of the suspected serial arsonist has provided a glimmer of hope for the Sunland-Tujunga community, who can now rest a little easier knowing that progress is being made in putting an end to this disturbing spree of fires.
