L.A. Arson Suspect Also Being Investigated in German Arson Case

Prosecutors plan to decide today what charges to file against the last week, possibly in retaliation against attempts to send his mother back to Germany to face fraud charges dating back to 2007.

Harry Burkhart, 24, of Hollywood, was and remains in custody without bail in downtown Los Angeles on suspicion of arson in connection with the fires set beginning early Thursday at 53 locations in , , as well as a string of attacks in .

According to the Associated Press via The Journal, Burkhart is also under investigation in Germany on suspicion of arson and fraud in connection with a fire at his family's property that occurred in 2011.

In many instances, fires started in carports raced to adjoining apartment buildings. The property damage resulting from the fires has been estimated at $3 million. One firefighter and a civilian suffered relatively minor injuries.

The fires stopped following Burkhart's arrest.

Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, said a filing decision would be made this morning and, if charges are filed, Burkhart will be arraigned later today in downtown Los Angeles.

Officials say it was an obscenity-laced outburst Burkhart let loose at his last week that helped lead to his capture. When images of "a person of interest" emerged Sunday in connection with the arson fires, a law enforcement officer who had witnessed the outburst reportedly recognized Burkhart and gave local authorities his name.

The officer was an agent in the Los Angeles field office of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, officials told the Los Angeles Times.

Burkhart was arrested around 3 a.m. Monday at Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue by a who spotted his minivan.

His mother, Dorothee Burkhart, appeared in federal court in downtown L.A. for a detention hearing Tuesday, but the proceeding was delayed until Friday to give her time to hire an attorney.

Dorothee Burkhart has been linked to a website offering the services of a licensed massage therapist. The website is registered in her name with the Hollywood address where she was living with her son.

She is wanted in Germany on 19 counts of fraud, including charges that she failed to pay a bill of about $10,000 for breast-augmentation surgery and bilked apartment renters out of security deposits. A warrant for her arrest was issued by a judge in Frankfurt in 2007, according to federal court papers.

The task force hastily assembled to investigate the carport fires comprised the Los Angeles County fire and sheriff's departments, the Los Angeles fire and police departments, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Follow West Hollywood Patch on Twitter and Facebook for more updates, tips and news.