Pomona man who ignited and killed woman was arrested

POMONA, CA (FOX 11/CNS) - A man who allegedly doused a 41-year-old woman with gasoline during a domestic dispute in Pomona and killed her by lighting her aflame with a cigarette was arrested by authorities on Sunday, while riding on a bus from Pasadena.

The arrest was made sometime this morning, said Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson, who directed any other media inquiries to the Pomona Police Department.

"Earlier this morning, a tip came in that the suspect may be boarding a Metro bus in Pasadena. Altadena Deputy (Ronnie) Manier, along with Pasadena police units raced to the bus at Foothill Boulevard and Halstead Street," according to a news statement from the Pomona Police Department.

Clarence Duwell Dear of Pomona, 51, was captured without incident and no other details regarding his arrest were immediately known, according to the news statement.

At 1:43 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to the 1500 block of Cordova Street on reports of a person who had been set on fire, said Pomona police Sgt. Bert Sanchez.

"Neighbors who saw the victim run from the residence engulfed in flames rendered assistance as she collapsed on the street and remained with her until L.A. County fire personnel arrived," Sanchez said. "The victim was treated for severe burns and was transported to a local hospital where she died shortly thereafter as a result of her injuries."

The victim was identified Saturday by police as 41-year-old Dawn Hensley of Pomona.

"Preliminary information suggests that the suspect and victim became involved in an argument that escalated to physical violence," Sanchez said. "It appears that during a domestic dispute, the suspect chased the victim from their residence and was able to douse the victim with gasoline. The suspect then ignited the victim, possibly with a lit cigarette."

"It was very horrific what happened. It stunned everyone," one woman said to FOX11's Christine O'Donnell through her door. She sais she was too afraid to have her face on the news because Dear is still on the loose.

"I saw a person on fire," the woman said.

At the makeshift memorial near where Hensley fell to the ground. A woman who lives nearby stopped to light a candle. She said her name is Angel.

"For a mother to die that way on Christmas, it hurts me," Angel said.

"It was so sad, so sad, it was unbelievable when it happened. I couldn't believe it. but, who knew. It just went down so tragic. it's just sad. it's real sad," neighbor Perry Sanford said. Sanford says he's known the couple for a little more than a year. He says the suspect recently helped him change a tire.

"Wow, you'd never think this guy was, wow;" Sanford said, "It really screwed everyone up when it went down."