Man arrested in downtown Los Angeles arson spree

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A 31-year-old man involved in a series of arson attacks in downtown Los Angeles since July is behind bars.

Victor Marias was arrested Thursday and was being held without bail, according to jail records.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, firefighters responded to Kohler Street between Seventh and Eighth Streets on July 19 where an exterior fire spread to several commercial buildings.

It took firefighters more than five hours to extinguish the flames and one firefighter was injured.

LAFD fire investigators responded to the scene and obtained “security surveillance footage of the set fire,” fire officials said in a statement.

Investigators later linked three other fires to the same suspect, later identified as Marias. Fire officials said he is on active probation for a fire that damaged a building a block from the Kohler Fire on Palmetto Street in August 2023.

The most recent fire that Marias allegedly set occurred Thursday on Willow Street, where another fire broke out on Sept. 22.

“In both cases, residents provided surveillance footage that showed combustible materials being collected and set on fire,” fire officials said.

Marias was arrested on suspicion of arson of a building and arson of property, as well as a probation violation.

“The assistance of witnesses within the community was critical to the identification and eventual apprehension of the suspect. Their willingness to step forward and actively protect their neighborhoods from harm is appreciated and commended,” firefighters said in a statement.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Los Angeles Fire Department at [email protected].