LOCAL : Lancaster Man Denies Home Arson
An Antelope Valley water board member pleaded innocent to arson charges after his arrest in connection with a fire that heavily damaged his Lancaster home, authorities said today.
Glenn D. Martin, 66, a member of the board of directors of the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency, was arrested Monday on suspicion of arson of a residential dwelling, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
Martin, who was released on $10,000 bail after his arraignment, is suspected of setting a fire Thursday in his home in the 500 block of East Avenue J, deputies said. Damage to the home was estimated at $90,000, and Los Angeles County fire reports say an “unauthorized junkyard” on the property hindered efforts to extinguish the 3:45 p.m. fire and endangered firefighters.
Martin has previously clashed with the city over his practice of storing junk metal and other debris on his property, authorities said. Martin could not be reached for comment.
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