Homeless Man Held in Inglewood Arson

Police arrested a homeless man on suspicion of setting a fire Thursday at an Inglewood furniture store, and authorities said the 34-year-old man may have set at least one other fire there.

The morning fire at Furniture Outlet in the 200 block of North La Brea Avenue appears to have started in a dumpster at the rear of the store, said Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Richard Leuck. Damage to the building is estimated at $300,000. The Regent, a nearby hotel, evacuated its guests.

Anthony Davis, who was standing across the street and smiling as the building burned, was arrested after being questioned by Inglewood police, Leuck said.

“He was grinning from ear to ear. It was like he was reveling in his glory,” said Leuck, who alerted police.

Davis is being held at the Inglewood jail. He is expected to be arraigned Monday. He is also a suspect in a February fire at the store, officials said.

“[Davis] said things that indicated his involvement,” said county Fire Capt. Brian Jordan.

To the firefighters at the Regent Street station, blocks from the blaze, Davis has been a familiar figure for at least a decade.

Leuck and other firefighters said Davis made small talk while watching them do chores. He knew several of the firefighters by name. Sometimes, he would sleep behind the station. He often would be present at fire scenes, Leuck said.

“It was eerie--him standing there at fires all night long,” Leuck said.

Last fall, Davis was seen at about six different fires in one night, said fire engineer Jasmine Segura, who has known Davis for several years.

Capt. Jordan confirmed that Davis was convicted of arson about a decade ago in Inglewood, but he did not have details of case.