A Claremont man has been arrested on suspicion of arson stemming from a small fire at a senior apartment complex last month.

Edward Carvalho, 63, was arrested on Monday, December 2, according to Det. Matt Hamill of the Claremont Police Department.

On November 22, police and fire officials raced to the Claremont Villas on the 100 block of south Indian Hill Boulevard after a fire was reported in one of the apartments. At the time, Claremont police told the COURIER that a 70-year-old man was cooking inside the apartment when some clothing items caught fire, leading to the blaze.

The fire was quickly put out, and the man was taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. It is unclear if this man was Mr. Carvalho.

Arson investigators were called to the scene, and determined that arson was to blame based on large burn and scorch marks found on one of the bedroom floors, Det. Hamill said.

Det. Hamill said Mr. Carvalho has not made a statement to police.

Mr. Carvalho was arrested and booked at CPD jail, where he was being held on $250,000 bail. He is scheduled to make an appearance at Pomona Superior Court on December 4.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com