SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Teen-Ager Charged in Series of Barber Shop Fires
A Studio City teen-ager who Ventura Boulevard barbers said often complained about getting bad haircuts was charged Friday in a series of arson fires and vandalism at three barber shops, including a fire that spread from one shop through an Encino mini-mall and caused $3.5 million in damage.
Jacob Mandel, 18, pleaded not guilty in Van Nuys Municipal Court to four counts of arson, one count of attempted arson and four counts of vandalism. The charges stem from incidents in the last two weeks at shops in Encino and Tarzana.
Mandel was arrested Tuesday night by firefighters who had been called to a blaze set at Sal’s Barber Shop in Tarzana. Firefighters spotted him allegedly attempting to set a fire at Venti’s Elite Barber Shop across the street, authorities said. Authorities said Mandel was also linked to the June 3 fire at the Capri East mini-mall in Encino, which destroyed or damaged 28 businesses and left dozens of people jobless.
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