Suspect Held in Library Fire

Arson investigators said Saturday that they are “convinced” that the man they have been interrogating since Friday is responsible for last year’s fire at the Los Angeles Central Library.

But friends and relatives of the suspect, 28-year-old Harry Peak, said that the part-time actor must have inadvertently lied his way into jail. They portrayed him as a gregarious person who often lost friends and jobs by telling tall tales to gain attention.

Peak was arrested Friday at his Hollywood home and booked at Hollywood Division police station on suspicion of arson. Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Dean Cathey said that Peak was questioned Friday night and that interrogation will continue today at the Hollywood station.

Peak, who is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail, has not been charged in the $22-million fire on April 29 at the city landmark.

But Cathey said: “We are convinced that he is the perpetrator.”

Investigators were led to Peak, he said, as the result of a telephone call. Cathey refused to comment on what evidence they have involving the suspect, but noted that Peak had been questioned several times over the last few months and allegedly had given conflicting statements.

Peak’s father said authorities have “no evidence” to charge his son and that his son is requesting a public defender.

Several acquaintances said Peak told them that he was in the library the day of the fire, and that he was being investigated.

Phillip Laing, a former roommate, said that Peak told him he was at the library the day of the fire that he was at the library doing research for a law firm. “He told us a story that he was carried out by firemen, that he helped a lady out the window,” Laing said.

More than 350,000 of the library’s 2 million books were destroyed in the fire.