A Pasadena man has been apprehended in connection with over 150 unidentified explosions in the city over the past two years, according to police reports.
Art Leon Berian, 62, faces accusations of setting off these explosions, including 14 incidents in the past two weeks near Allen Avenue and Washington Boulevard, stated the Pasadena Police Department in a recent news release.
Berian was pinpointed as the suspect after investigators encountered another explosion on May 16 while obtaining video footage of a previous incident. According to the release, detectives heard a loud blast and saw a white cloud form in front of them.
During their search of the area, detectives noticed Berian’s 2013 BMW, one of two vehicles registered to the owner that had been seen at previous explosion sites, police reported.
Upon detaining Berian, “evidence was collected from his car related to that explosion,” according to police.
He faces three felony charges for explosions with intent to injure or intimidate. Fortunately, as police highlighted, “miraculously, there have been no reported injuries associated with these explosions.”
Berian was arrested and lodged in Pasadena City Jail with bail set at $1.5 million, police said.
Jail records, however, indicate that Berian is being held at Men’s Central Jail with bail set at $2.02 million.
Pasadena Police Department officials later confirmed to KTLA that the 62-year-old is being held without bail, and his arraignment has been rescheduled for May 30.
