Berkeley, CA – Peter Taraba, 48, has been arrested and is being held on a combined bail of $720,000 in connection with an arson and subsequent flooding at the Berkeley Animal Shelter, incidents that reportedly occurred after authorities seized his dog. The Berkeley Scanner first reported that Taraba's dog was taken by police during a prior arrest, leading to suspicions about the motive behind the attacks on the facility. He is currently incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
Police initially arrested Taraba on Friday, June 5, on suspicion of vandalism after he allegedly punctured a bicycle tire in downtown Berkeley. Following this arrest, his dog was taken into custody and placed at the Berkeley Animal Shelter, according to police statements. This event is believed to be the precursor to the subsequent incidents at the shelter.
The animal shelter fire occurred on Saturday, June 6, when surveillance footage reportedly showed a man using a rock to break a window before igniting the blaze with an "improvised incendiary device." Although no animals or staff were injured, the fire caused significant smoke damage, leading to the shelter's closure and the relocation of all animals. The facility is expected to remain closed for an extended period.
Days later, on Wednesday, June 10, Taraba allegedly returned to the shelter, jumped a fence, and accessed an outdoor dog room where he opened an external water faucet, flooding the area and parts of the first-floor interior. Police confirmed his link to the flooding through video surveillance. Furthermore, authorities reported that Taraba flooded his own jail cell in Berkeley, leading to his transfer to Santa Rita Jail.
Taraba was arrested on Thursday, June 11, on suspicion of arson and multiple counts of animal cruelty, with investigators also linking him to the flooding incident. While police identified him as homeless, online sources suggest a background as a researcher in math, physics, and computer science, with publications dating back decades. He is scheduled for arraignment on Monday.
The Berkeley Animal Care Services facility remains closed due to the damage, impacting adoption services and other operations. Community support has been mobilized to assist with the care of the relocated animals and the shelter's recovery efforts.
