Robert Chacon
Prosecutors will present DNA evidence today that they say link a La
Crescenta man charged with the attempted murder of his neighbors to a
pair of gasoline-soaked latex gloves.
Gary Glazier, 62, is accused of twice setting fire to his
neighbors' home, first in February and again in May. The family was
at home during the first blaze, but not the second.
Los Angeles County Deputy District Atty. Robert Cheleden will
present a DNA report at a pretrial hearing today in Pasadena Superior
Court, he said.
"Based on expert opinion, the DNA [from the gloves] appears to be
the same DNA attained from Glazier's mouth," Cheleden said.
Arson investigators found the latex gloves in the bed of a pick-up
truck inside Glazier's garage when they searched his home May 13, the
day the of the second fire, they said during a preliminary hearing.
Along with the gloves, investigators found a commercial paint tank, a
spray nozzle altered to shoot a stream of liquid and sections of PVC
pipe they said were used to light the neighbors' home after it had
been doused with gasoline.
All items contained gasoline residue, according to chemical
analysts for the county Sheriff's Department.
Police searched Glazier's home after neighbors turned over to
investigators a digital recording that reportedly shows someone
setting the fire from Glazier's front yard. Who is shown on the
videotape, or whether a person is shown on the tape at all, has been
disputed by Glazier's defense attorneys. Prosecutors have not
indicated what they believe Glazier's motive might have been.
Last month, Glazier fired his original attorney and hired
high-profile defender Robert Shapiro, who rose to prominence as a
member of O.J. Simpson's dream team of lawyers in 1994.
Shapiro did not return phone calls.
Shapiro's hiring is sure to delay the start of the trial, Cheleden
said.
"He will most likely say that he is not ready to start," he said.
Though Glazier was arrested on suspicion of starting the May 13
fire, charges of attempted murder were filed against him for
allegedly lighting the occupied home on fire in February. The home
was under repair when the second fire broke out. Glazier also faces
arson charges.
* ROBERT CHACON covers La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta. He
may be reached at (818) 637-3239 or by e-mail at
Robert.chacon@latimes.com.
