Suspect arrested in connection to Miami-Dade County brush fires

Erick Padron, 20, booked on multiple arson charges

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police arrested a Miami man for allegedly starting multiple brush fires in southwest Miami-Dade since 2014.

Erick Padron, 20, was arrested Thursday on two counts of arson and intentionally burning land.

Padron is believed to have started at least three brush fires in 2014 and one in 2015.

The first fire occurred on February 16, 2014 inside Larry and Penny Thompson State Park, while the other was set at the Rockdale Pineland Preserve on February 21, 2014.

Approximately 15 acres of vegetation were burned at the preserve.

Padron is connected to another fire at the state park on March 4, 2014

Forestry Department officers witnessed Padron taking pictures with his cell phone at all three of the 2014 fire scenes.

When one officer asked Padron why he was at the preserve location, Padron responded, "I just like fires."

On May 17, 2015, three fires were set on a property located at 20300 S.W. 142 Avenue in Miami.

A man visiting the homeowner was able to pick Padron out of a photographic line-up as the suspicious person he saw standing on the side of the road as he drove up to the residence.

The three fires burned seven acres of vegetation and avocado trees on the property and was deemed to be arson by the Forestry Department.

Padron was arrested Thursday evening at Shorty's Barbecue Restaurant where he works as a dishwasher.

Police noted that in the last 24 months there have been 12 intentionally set fires in and around Larry and Penny Thompson State Park.

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