Man charged with setting fire to Berkeley Animal Shelter

BERKELEY – A 48-year-old man is facing felony arson charges in connection with a suspicious fire earlier this month at the Berkeley Animal Shelter, prosecutors said. Peter Taraba is also charged with burglary and vandalism, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. He was arraigned Tuesday in Oakland. The shelter at 1 Bolivar Drive burst into flames on June 6 after an “improvised incendiary device” was tossed into the building, the Berkeley Police Department said. No people or animals were injured. The shelter, however, was damaged and could remain shuttered for weeks. “I am grateful to the Berkeley first responders whose efforts suppressed the fire before any people or animals were injured,” District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said in a statement. Officers identified Taraba as a suspect and arrested him last week in downtown Berkeley. Taraba is slated to return to court Thursday for appointment of counsel and to enter a plea, prosecutors said. Check back for updates.