Berkeley Arson Suspect Arrested

BERKELEY, CA — An arson suspect was arrested Thursday morning in Berkeley, police said.

Officers responded to report that came in at around 10 a.m. of a fire at a duplex in the 1500 block of Stuart Street and a man holding a shotgun and acting erratically outside the building, police said.

Officers responded to report that came in Thursday at around 10 a.m. of a fire at a duplex in the 1500 block of Stuart Street and a man holding a shotgun and acting erratically outside the building, police said.

Officers were called to the same address minutes earlier on the report of a disturbance after neighbors said they heard a man inside the residence yelling, banging on walls, and the sound of glass breaking, police said.

The man did not respond after officers made repeated attempts to speak with him according to police.

Officers concluded that the man was by himself and did not appear to be in any immediate danger and left the scene, police said.

When officers returned to the building they safely detained the man while the Berkeley Fire Department knocked down the blaze, police said.

The 34-year-old Berkeley man was arrested on suspicion of arson and carrying a loaded firearm, police said.