Glendale Police Arrest Serial Arsonist Attempting Fire at Burned Home

Clarence Schiebel, a 56-year-old man with multiple prior arson convictions and a significant criminal history, was arrested in Glendale for attempting to ignite a fire at a vacant, fire-damaged property on South Central Avenue. Police responded to reports of a burglary in progress and found Schiebel at the front of the red-tagged, unsafe residence where they detected the smell of fresh gasoline and observed liquid on the living room floor. Officers discovered a Pennzoil jug filled with gasoline and two lighters in Schiebel's possession, and he was physically detained after refusing to comply with police commands. Schiebel was also wanted on a $200,000 felony arson warrant issued by the Los Angeles Police Department. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged him with attempted arson, burglary, and possession of flammable or combustible material, and he is being held on $1.7 million bail. Schiebel has served several prison terms and is registered as an arson offender.