Seven arrested in three unrelated arson cases

By Mary Manning

Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 | 12:15 p.m.

Seven people, including two adults and five juveniles, were arrested and charged with arson by Las Vegas Fire Department investigators over the weekend and today.

The fires that resulted in the arrests weren't related and occurred at three different locations, said Tim Szymanski, spokesman for the Las Vegas Fire Department.

The first blaze occurred Saturday morning when witnesses called 911 and reported a man setting a tree on fire in a vacant lot in the 100 block of North Bruce Street, Szymanski said. The man was charged with one count of third-degree arson but has not been identified.

Four juveniles were charged with third-degree arson in connection with a trash fire in the restroom of a building at a private park on Nicklen Street in the northwest part of Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon, Szymanski said.

Two people passing by the park saw smoke coming from the restroom and told fire investigators they found young people setting fire to the trash. The two passersby called 911 and kept the juveniles until police and fire officials arrived and put out the fire. Damage to the building was minor.

A man and a juvenile were arrested and charged with third-degree arson after a vehicle was set on fire in a remote area of Wyatt Avenue early this morning, Szymanski said. Metro Police caught both the man and the juvenile.