SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 7, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Fire officials announced the arrest of a suspect in multiple downtown Salt Lake City arsons.
The suspect was apparently wearing firefighter gear at the time of his arrest.
“The Salt Lake City Fire Department Investigations Unit, with the assistance of the Salt Lake City Police Department, has arrested Jacob Biada, 32, in connection with multiple arson incidents in the downtown area,” the fire department said in a Wednesday afternoon press release.
Biada has been booked into jail on several counts of arson as well as theft of personal protective equipment belonging to fire personnel, the department said.
The efforts of the fire department’s investigations unit “have led to the apprehension of an individual believed to be responsible for a series of dangerous fires that threatened the safety and well-being of our community.”
Charges have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office, according to the release.
“As this is an ongoing legal matter, no further information will be released at this time.”
So far, Biada has an online arrest record for one incident, according to 3rd District Court records, a fire July 8 at 201 E. South Temple. He was ordered held without bail after his July 22 arrest, charged July 29 with aggravated arson, a first-degree felony, and third-degree felony theft, the theft alleged the same day as the fire involving stolen firefighting clothing and gear.
Biada was wearing wildfire firefighter apparel the day he was questioned July 22 about the July 8 fire, and arrested, according to his probable cause affidavit.
The fire broke out in a parking garage under an apartment building. Crews had to cut through a metal garage door to make entry. Upon doing so, “the suspect, Jacob Biada, exited the cut door after being trapped inside.”
When he was questioned two weeks later, wearing the fire gear, court records said, he claimed he found it. But the clothing was confirmed to belong to the victim by his name marked inside the clothing, as taken in a car burglary of July 8 in the same parking garage, according to the charging documents. Biada was arraigned Aug. 1, where an Aug. 12 scheduling conference was docketed.
