Attempted murder, arson, burglary and other felony crimes rounded out the list of 27 criminal counts filed Friday against a suspected arsonist.
Defendant Joshua Ethan Thomas stands accused of setting a rash of 18 fires, including blazes sparked in homes as victims slept.
Thomas, who wore a shaggy bear and hair appeared in the Long Beach Superior Court Friday afternoon for arraignment in Los Angeles County Jail issued garb, is accused of trying to kill a family of three -- including an infant -- and a woman while she slept when he allegedly set fires in their homes, said Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney.
Thomas' arraignment was postponed until May 5 and he did not enter a plea. He is being held on more than $2.3 million bail.
The 25-year-old was arrested early Wednesday by a Long Beach Police Department patrolman who recognized seeing Thomas near the scene of one of the fires on a previous morning, and distinctly recalled Thomas' odd gait.
The quick capture came as a relief to authorities who noted the rapid escalation of violence was cause for serious concern.
"Early on the Long Beach Fire Department recognized a serial arsonist was at work," Long Beach Fire Chief Alan Patalano said at a press conference held Wednesday to announce Thomas' capture.
A total of 18 fires were set between April 13-18, most of them in the early morning hours, Patalano said.
The Arson Unit, made up of three Long Beach Fire Department investigators, one Long Beach Police Department detective and an ATF agent, caught a major break when Thomas was caught on surveillance video near one of the fires, Patalano said.
With the surveillance footage and a profile emerging the Arson Unit was able to update all the Long Beach Police Department Patrol Divisions, notably the South and East Divisions were the fires were set, he said.
A press release was issued to notify the public late Tuesday night. Thanks to the East Division Patrol officer's quick work Wednesday morning the suspect was in custody before most residents realized a serial arsonist was loose, authorities said.
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Thomas has an extensive criminal history including arrests for weapons offenses and terrorist threats.
However it did not appear as though he had been arrested or suspect of arson in the past, said Arson Investigation Capt. Pat Wills, head of the Fire Department's Arson Unit.
The fires had begun on a typical scale, set in trash cans, garages, on cars and in sheds in yards or alleys. But as the days went on the arsonist grew more bold, leaving taunting messages scrawled on walls for investigators.
One message, scribbled in red ink, listed the fire as the 11th set in 72 hours and declared, "Delna strikes again."
Delna is the name of a childhood friend, Wills explained.
The most disturbing incidents included three fires set inside the homes of victims as they slept or were inside, Wills said.
"Our suspect ... dropped flaming papers through the open window and onto the bed of a woman while she slept," Wills said.
At another home a local couple and their baby were inside when the suspect allegedly crept into their home and lit some clothing on fire, Wills said.
They were able to get out safely after their smoke detectors went off, Wills said.
Two attempted murder counts filed Friday pertained to each of those incidents, said Carney, who specializes in prosecuting arson cases.
McDonnell said Wednesday that it did not initially appear as though the suspect knew any of his victims and that investigators were still working to determine the motive for the crimes, the chief said.
"We have admissions (of guilt) from the suspect, he's a person that we've had quite a lot of contact with in the past," McDonnell said.
tracy.manzer@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1261.
Defendant Joshua Ethan Thomas stands accused of setting a rash of 18 fires, including blazes sparked in homes as victims slept.
Thomas, who wore a shaggy bear and hair appeared in the Long Beach Superior Court Friday afternoon for arraignment in Los Angeles County Jail issued garb, is accused of trying to kill a family of three -- including an infant -- and a woman while she slept when he allegedly set fires in their homes, said Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney.
Thomas' arraignment was postponed until May 5 and he did not enter a plea. He is being held on more than $2.3 million bail.
The 25-year-old was arrested early Wednesday by a Long Beach Police Department patrolman who recognized seeing Thomas near the scene of one of the fires on a previous morning, and distinctly recalled Thomas' odd gait.
The quick capture came as a relief to authorities who noted the rapid escalation of violence was cause for serious concern.
"Early on the Long Beach Fire Department recognized a serial arsonist was at work," Long Beach Fire Chief Alan Patalano said at a press conference held Wednesday to announce Thomas' capture.
A total of 18 fires were set between April 13-18, most of them in the early morning hours, Patalano said.
The Arson Unit, made up of three Long Beach Fire Department investigators, one Long Beach Police Department detective and an ATF agent, caught a major break when Thomas was caught on surveillance video near one of the fires, Patalano said.
With the surveillance footage and a profile emerging the Arson Unit was able to update all the Long Beach Police Department Patrol Divisions, notably the South and East Divisions were the fires were set, he said.
A press release was issued to notify the public late Tuesday night. Thanks to the East Division Patrol officer's quick work Wednesday morning the suspect was in custody before most residents realized a serial arsonist was loose, authorities said.
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Thomas has an extensive criminal history including arrests for weapons offenses and terrorist threats.
However it did not appear as though he had been arrested or suspect of arson in the past, said Arson Investigation Capt. Pat Wills, head of the Fire Department's Arson Unit.
The fires had begun on a typical scale, set in trash cans, garages, on cars and in sheds in yards or alleys. But as the days went on the arsonist grew more bold, leaving taunting messages scrawled on walls for investigators.
One message, scribbled in red ink, listed the fire as the 11th set in 72 hours and declared, "Delna strikes again."
Delna is the name of a childhood friend, Wills explained.
The most disturbing incidents included three fires set inside the homes of victims as they slept or were inside, Wills said.
"Our suspect ... dropped flaming papers through the open window and onto the bed of a woman while she slept," Wills said.
At another home a local couple and their baby were inside when the suspect allegedly crept into their home and lit some clothing on fire, Wills said.
They were able to get out safely after their smoke detectors went off, Wills said.
Two attempted murder counts filed Friday pertained to each of those incidents, said Carney, who specializes in prosecuting arson cases.
McDonnell said Wednesday that it did not initially appear as though the suspect knew any of his victims and that investigators were still working to determine the motive for the crimes, the chief said.
"We have admissions (of guilt) from the suspect, he's a person that we've had quite a lot of contact with in the past," McDonnell said.
tracy.manzer@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1261.
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