Runyon Canyon News
By Lindsey Baguio and City News Service
A 24-year-old man suspected of setting dozens of fires across Los Angeles on New Year’s weekend was charged Wednesday with 37 felony counts related to arson.
Harry Burkhart, a German national who lives in Hollywood, was charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office with 28 counts of arson of property and nine counts of arson of an inhabited structure.
He made a brief court appearance Wednesday in which he repeatedly stood up, sat down and slumped his neck back as sheriff’s deputies held him, but his arraignment was postponed to Jan. 24.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Upinder S. Kalra ordered Burkhart to remain jailed in lieu of $2.85 million bail and to surrender his passport, but declined Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney’s request to order Burkhart to be held without bail.
Burkhart was found Monday on Sunset Boulevard near Fairfax Avenue by a reserve sheriff’s deputy who spotted his minivan. Police said fire-starting materials were found inside the vehicle. According to sheriff’s investigator Edward M. Nordskog’s investigation, a search of Burkhart’s residence after his arrest turned up copies of Los Angeles Times articles about the fires, along with articles from Germany about similar car fires in Frankfurt last year.
The charges filed Wednesday relate to 12 fires that were set in Hollywood, West Hollywood and Sherman Oaks, said District Attorney Steve Cooley. The criminal complaint also includes an allegation that an accelerant was used to start the fires. More charges may be filed. Cooley noted that the investigation in the 52 fires is “not over.”
“We anticipate filing additional charges by the time of the defendant’s arraignment,” Cooley told reporters at a news conference. “As Sean Carney … stated in court, a campaign of terror has ended and that was with the arrest of Harry Burkhart,” Cooley said.
“I think the bail deviation (declaration) that we filed set forth a sense that this particular individual was set off by the incarceration of his mother, with whom he appears to be quite close, and he had latent anti-American views,” the district attorney said. “That combination apparently set him off on this binge.”
In many instances, fires started in carports that spread quickly to adjoining apartment buildings. The property damage resulting from the fires has been estimated at $3 million. One firefighter and a civilian suffered relatively minor injuries. So far, the fires have stopped following Burkhart’s arrest.
Investigators said an obscenity-laced outburst Burkhart let loose at an extradition hearing for his mother on Dec. 29 helped lead to his capture. When images of “a person of interest” emerged Sunday in connection with the arson fires, a law enforcement officer who had witnessed the outburst reportedly recognized Burkhart and gave local authorities his name, according to the DA’s office…Read the Rest of This Article
This guy is going to jail for a really really really long time. I really don’t understand why he would’ve done this for no reason what-so-ever. I feel really bad for the victims.
It was definitely a senseless act and I really feel bad for the good people of Hollywood and surrounding areas for what he did to them…it really is a shame!
I can’t wait till this guy gets fried for what he’s done! Throw away the key!
My heart and prayers go out to the people that fell victim to his senseless acts.
Every time I hear about this guy it just makes me more and more angry. I’m so glad he didn’t torch Runyon Canyon, thank god he didn’t go crazy up there. I really would’ve shot him myself if he messed with the park.
Ira, I thank god that nobody was hurt during this guys’ reign of terror in Hollywood. I’m sooooo glad he didn’t mess with Runyon Canayon…thank goodness.
How do I go about getting agreement to post part of the article in my upcoming newsletter? Offering proper credit to you the source and weblink to the site will not be a problem. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.
Yusuf, Please list the credits as follows: Written By: Runyon Canyon Los Angeles, http://runyoncanyon-losangeles.com.
I hope this helps – thank you so much. If you have any other questions please feel free to email me directly at fans@runyoncanyon-losangeles.com, have a great night and good luck on your article.
This article makes me more and more mad everytime I read it. I really hope this guy fries for what he has done. Are there any updates on this case as of yet?
Uriel I haven’t heard anything but maybe it is about time for an update on this case – thanks for checking in. Have a great day.
Update on the Hollywood Arson: I heard that this guy got life without parole, do you know if that is true or not?
Walter, I’m just not sure what is going on with this case. I will update the comments if I find out any other information. I wish I had more information for you. Have a great day.