Arson suspect arrested in fire in flood channel

By Hannah FryStaff Writer

Dec. 7, 2016 1:13 PM PT

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A transient suspected of lighting bushes on fire in a flood control channel was arrested Tuesday evening in Costa Mesa.

Costa Mesa police and firefighters responded at 6:33 p.m. to a report of a man setting several bushes on fire in a county flood control channel along Bristol Street and fleeing on a bicycle. Officers searched the area but were unable to find the man, police Sgt. Dan Miles said.

About 30 minutes later, officers received a call about a man trying to light a tree on fire at a nearby fast-food restaurant, Miles said.

Robert Kenneth Berglund, 55, was arrested on suspicion of arson and attempted arson, Miles said. He was booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $50,000.

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Twitter: @HannahFryTCN

Hannah Fry

Hannah Fry covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She most recently covered Orange County for The Times and has written extensively about criminal trials, housing, politics and government. In 2020, Fry was part of the team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. Fry came to The Times from the Daily Pilot, where she covered coastal cities, education and crime. An Orange County native, Fry started her career as an intern at the Orange County Register.