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Former fire chief, reality TV star arrested for setting fire to cover up radio theft

Authorities charge that the terminated deputy chief set a fire at department headquarters as part of his theft of thousands of dollars in radios

CBS LA

COMPTON, Calif. — A former deputy chief for the Compton Fire Department has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at headquarters and stealing thousands of dollars in radio equipment.

Marcel Melanson, 37, was arrested Wednesday without incident at his Torrance home on charges of felony arson and grand theft, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The arrest stems from what investigators say was a suspicious fire that broke out at Compton Fire Department headquarters on Acacia Avenue on December 11, 2011. The Compton Fire Chief requested the LASD’s Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau to assist in looking into the case on January 4, 2012.

Full story: Former Compton Fire Department deputy chief arrested for arson