Pasadena, California – A 62-year-old man from Pasadena has been taken into custody by local authorities for his alleged involvement in causing “over 150 unidentified explosions” within the city over the past couple of years. The Pasadena Police Department announced that Art Leon Berian is suspected of setting off the explosions, with 14 of them occurring near Allen Avenue and Washington Boulevard in just the last two weeks.
Berian’s identification as the suspect came following an incident on May 16, where investigators were in the process of obtaining video footage of a previous explosion when they heard a loud bang and witnessed a white cloud in front of them. During their search of the area, they spotted Berian’s 2013 BMW, one of two vehicles linked to the same owner that had been seen at previous explosion sites.
After detaining Berian, authorities collected evidence from his car that was related to the recent explosion. Despite the series of blasts, no injuries have been reported in connection with the incidents, leading to Berian facing three felony counts of explosions with intent to harm or intimidate.
Following his arrest, Berian was booked into the Pasadena City Jail, where he remained in custody on a $1.5 million bail. However, jail records reflect that he is being held at Men’s Central Jail on a $2.02 million bail amount.
Berian was scheduled to make an appearance in Pasadena Superior Court on Tuesday morning to face the charges against him. The investigation into the explosions continues as authorities work to determine the motives behind Berian’s alleged actions and ensure the safety of the community.