California man sets sleeping homeless man on fire, takes pictures as victim tries to put out blaze
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA: A California man who intentionally set a homeless man on fire and took pictures of the incident as it happened has been charged with attempted murder.
Richard Smallets, 32, was first arrested on charges of arson after officers from the Glendale Police Department responded to Brand Boulevard and Harvard Street at 1:22 am on September 12 to assist the fire department in combating a small fire on the sidewalk, according to a press release.
On investigation, responding officers found that a homeless man was sleeping under some cardboard boxes when he woke up after getting an odor of smoke. He realized that the cardboard was on fire and tried to put out the flames with bottled water, but was unsuccessful.
The Glendale Fire Department quickly responded to the scene and put out the fire, following which an inquiry was launched into the incident.
Later that same afternoon, Glendale detectives went to the scene and retrieved video surveillance from a nearby business that captured the moment a man purposefully lit the cardboard and then nonchalantly started taking photographs as the homeless man desperately tried to put out the fire.
As detectives continued their investigation, they made contact with Smallets, and after questioning, connected him to the crime. He was subsequently placed under arrest the same day.
"Detectives continued their investigation and contacted a male, identified as Richard Smallets, at Central Park," read the press release. "After questioning Smallets, detectives connected him to the arson investigation and he was subsequently placed under arrest", it said.
On September 13, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed attempted murder charges against the 32-year-old as well.
Smallets' motive is currently unknown, and he pleaded not guilty to his charges during his first appearance in court on September 16. He made his second appearance in court on September 24, for a pre-trial hearing. He still is in custody as he awaits further court hearings, with his bail set at $1 million.