3 Are Indicted in Attempt to Burn Vacant Restaurant
Two Garden Grove residents and a transient were indicted Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to commit arson for attempting to burn a vacant Redondo Beach restaurant, authorities said.
The three were identified as Christian A. Tallini, 24, and L. Grant Deterding, 38, both of Garden Grove; and William Byrd, 28.
If convicted, the men face up to 15 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The Feb. 24 arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the Garden Grove Fire Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said Garden Grove Fire Capt. Bill Dumas.
After identifying Tallini as a suspect in a number of Southland fires, Fire Department investigators requested assistance from federal agents, Dumas said.
An undercover agent met with Tallini, who police said then offered his services as an arsonist. On Feb. 23, the federal agent gave Tallini the location of the Redondo Beach restaurant. During the next 24 hours, authorities said, the investigators put Tallini and the restaurant under surveillance.
The suspects were observed purchasing a large quantity of gasoline and then were arrested at the scene, Dumas said.
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