Man Held in Fires That Gutted Gas Station
Police arrested an unemployed laborer and convicted arsonist Tuesday on suspicion of setting two fires that gutted a vacant gas station a block from his house.
Detective Bill Wallis said Richard David Green, 36, admitted setting the two fires on Oct. 13 and Oct. 17 at the service station in the 500 block of South Harbor Boulevard. The fires caused an estimated $200,000 in damage, and the building is slated to be demolished, police said.
Neighbors near the station identified Green as the suspect.
Wallis said Green also admitted setting trash dumpster fires throughout Fullerton and setting fires in other North Orange County cities. In 1991, he was convicted of setting fire to an Irvine business and was sentenced to three years’ probation. He also was ordered to pay restitution, police said.
Green was being held in the city jail, with bail set at $100,000. His arraignment is set for today in Municipal Court here, police said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
