Los Angeles authorities have apprehended a woman linked to a fire incident outside an Eagle Rock gym. LAPD officers arrested 48-year-old Marvella Salomon on suspicion of arson after she was reportedly caught lighting a mattress on fire near Lako Boxing Club, located on the 4400 block of Eagle Rock Boulevard.
Reports detailed the early morning blaze last Sunday, where the Los Angeles Fire Department responded around 4:30 a.m. NBC Los Angeles disclosed surveillance footage from the gym showing Salomon igniting the fire before walking away. The gym's owner mentioned that Salomon was a familiar face, assumed to be homeless, although police have not confirmed her housing status.
Following the incident, Salomon was identified by officers from the LAPD Northeast Division, recognized from an earlier wanted flyer, as confirmed by FOX 11. With charges including arson of a structure and arson of personal property, Salomon's bail has been set at $125,000.
Lako Boxing Club's owner, Yuichi Ohi, detailed the harrowing event in a CBS News Los Angeles interview: "She moved a mattress over to a fitness tire that we use for workouts and then put some other stuff on top of it and then proceeded to light on fire and briskly walked away." Salomon's arrest was made on December 19, solidifying her association with the act of arson.
As the investigation remains active, authorities are seeking additional information related to the fire. Officials encourage anyone with insights to contact Major Crimes at (213) 486-7260 or to reach out anonymously to the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or through their website lacrimstoppers.org.
