Pasadena has been on edge for nearly two years with more than 150 explosions rocking the Allen Ave. and Washington Blvd. corridor, causing both confusion and fear amongst residents. The blasts, captured by ShotSpotter technology and discussed on neighborhood apps, went mostly unreported to police until a break in the case was made public. According to an official press release, detectives from the Pasadena Fire Arson Investigator and the Pasadena Police Robbery / Homicide Unit worked together to link the mysterious explosions to 63-year-old Pasadena resident Art Leon Berian, as reported by the Pasadena Police Department.
On May 16, while surveying a recent explosion site linked to the investigation, detectives heard yet another blast and were greeted with the sight of a white cloud mere feet away. They quickly managed to witness and apprehend Berian as he approached the area in his 2013 BMW. The breakthrough moment led to his arrest and the collection of related evidence from his vehicle. In a statement obtained by the Pasadena Police, thankfully, despite the high number of incidents, these explosions have not resulted in injuries.
Berian is now facing major legal repercussions for the terror he has seemingly caused. On May 20, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged him with three felony counts of PC18740, a crime that involves explosives with intent to injure or intimidate. Bail has been steeply set at $1,500,000 for Berian, reflecting the seriousness of the offenses, according to the Pasadena Police Department.
The police are continuing to appeal to the public for any additional information that could further illuminate this bizarre series of events. They urge anyone with knowledge to call (626) 744-4241 or to reach out anonymously through "Crime Stoppers" at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or to use the “P3 Tips” mobile app, ensuring they can fully address the puzzle of the Pasadena explosion
