Police have arrested a man on charges of attempted murder for allegedly lighting two people on fire at a South Los Angeles homeless encampment.

Phillip Darryl Cole, 54, was arrested about 4 p.m. Saturday by patrol officers who saw him sitting at a bus bench at West Florence Avenue and South Figueroa Street, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Detectives believe Cole approached an encampment at an empty lot at West 83rd Street and South Vermont Avenue around 6:40 a.m. on May 19, threw a flammable liquid on two people and then set them on fire.

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Both victims were seriously injured and are in stable condition, according to police.

Police described Cole as a transient who lives in the area where the attack took place. Officers identified him from a photograph and a description they were provided and took him into custody without incident.

Cole is being held on $1.27 million bail, police said.

tony.barboza@latimes.com


Twitter: @tonybarboza

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