Hollywood Synagogue Arson Suspect Found to Already Be in Custody

A man suspected of burglarizing a Hollywood synagogue and setting a small fire on April 14 was discovered Tuesday to already be in custody on unrelated charges, authorities said.

The suspect was found in jail, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. His identity was not available.

The investigation is ongoing and arson investigators are attempting to determine whether the suspect is responsible for additional recent fires in the area, Humphrey said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department had released surveillance video of a man seen entering and leaving Temple Israel of Hollywood the morning of April 14 and sought the public's help in finding the suspect. Workers at the synagogue had found vandalism and a small fire in a second-story classroom, authorities said.

Officials at the scene, including Councilman Tom LaBonge, called the incident a hate crime.

The Los Angeles Police Department declined to name the man or say why he had been arrested.

"It's not our case," said Officer Norma Eisenman. "It's being handled by the fire department."

No one with the fire department's Arson/Counter Terrorism Section, the lead agency on the case, was available Tuesday afternoon.

Hollywood Patch will continue to update this developing story.

City News Service contributed to this report.