Man accused of setting homeless people on fire in South LA arrested

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A transient man who allegedly threw a flammable liquid on two other homeless people and set them on fire in South Los Angeles has been arrested, police said Sunday.

Los Angeles police from the 77th Street Station were patrolling in the area of Florence Avenue and Figueroa Street when they saw spotted Phillip Darryl Cole at about 4 p.m. Saturday, according to a press release from the LAPD.

Officers noticed Cole matched the suspect description when he was sitting on a bus bench and arrested him without incident.

Cole is accused of going to a homeless encampment at 83rd Street and Vermont Avenue and throwing the flammable liquid on two people before setting them on fire.

The victims received serious injuries but remain in stable condition, police said.

Cole was charged with attempted murder, and his bail was set at $1.2 million.

Officers believe Cole is responsible for several robberies in the area as well.