> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Dog seizure preceded Berkeley Animal Shelter fire - URL: https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/06/12/community/dog-seizure-preceded-berkeley-animal-shelter-fire/ - Published: 2026-06-12T23:51:25.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-12T23:51:25.000Z - Description: After the fire, police say arson suspect Peter Taraba flooded the shelter and then flooded the toilet in his Berkeley jail cell. - Author: Emilie Raguso - Tags: Community, West Berkeley, Berkeley Fire, Berkeley Animal Shelter fire, Property crimes, Arrests, Crime, BPD, #articles, #tips The man police say started a fire at the [Berkeley Animal Shelter](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/berkeley-animal-shelter-fire/) last weekend, and later tried to flood it, had his dog taken during a recent arrest, The Scanner has learned. [Berkeley police](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/berkeley-police-department/) initially arrested Peter Taraba last week Friday, June 5, on suspicion of vandalism, BPD said in response to a Scanner inquiry. That day, police responded to [downtown Berkeley](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/downtown-berkeley/) at about 6:15 p.m. after Taraba punctured the tire of someone's bicycle in the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue, according to police and public records. The victim identified Taraba and police arrested him, taking his dog to the Berkeley Animal Shelter, BPD said. Police have not released a motive for the shelter fire, but it took place the following night. Several days later, on Wednesday at about 11:30 p.m., police say Taraba jumped the fence at the shelter and accessed the outdoor dog room. According to BPD, that's where he opened an external water faucet, flooding the dog room as well as the first-floor building interior. The city had already relocated all the shelter animals, after it became clear the building would need to [stay closed for an extended length of time](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/06/09/community/berkeley-animal-shelter-closed-3-weeks/). Police [arrested Taraba on Thursday morning](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/06/11/community/berkeley-animal-shelter-arson-arrest-made/) on suspicion of the animal shelter fire and said they were also looking into him in relation to the flood. Friday afternoon, police confirmed that they had linked Taraba to the flood, through video surveillance footage, after The Scanner inquired about a new burglary case listed in Taraba's booking record. This week, police removed Taraba from Berkeley Jail and took him to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin after he flooded the toilet in his Berkeley cell, authorities said. Taraba, 48, is now being held at Santa Rita Jail with a combined bail of $720,000\. He is set for arraignment in both cases Monday. Police identified Taraba as homeless but websites online [link him to UC Berkeley](https://ucberkeley.academia.edu/PeterTaraba?ref=berkeleyscanner.com) and [identify him as a researcher](https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-taraba-1b591434a/?ref=berkeleyscanner.com) in Oakland with a background in math, physics and computer science. His listed publications appear to be decades old. Taraba's only charged case in Alameda County is a misdemeanor battery case from March, according to court records. *Read complete coverage of the* [*animal shelter fire*](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/berkeley-animal-shelter-fire/)*.* 🚨 ****The Berkeley Scanner was the first to report this news.** [****Share tips**](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/tips/) **with TBS to help us provide the most timely, comprehensive coverage for you and your neighbors.** ## Sign up for The Berkeley Scanner Authoritative crime + safety news Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.