Man known as ‘Tupac’ starts fire, damaging Miami-Dade County property, deputies say

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A man known to authorities as “Tupac” from past criminal investigations is now facing charges in connection with an arson case in Miami-Dade County, deputies said.

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According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Tupac, whose real name is Edwin Vega Serrano, was arrested Tuesday in connection with an arson that occurred June 27, damaging property belonging to the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners.

Deputies said Serrano, 50, who is homeless, was captured on surveillance video igniting a pile of illegally dumped waste directly northeast of 3333 NW 38^th St.

He then grabbed an unknown object and broke a Miami-Dade Solid Waste Department pole camera, authorities said.

According to the report, the video then shows Serrano igniting a bag on fire, which was in the middle of Northwest 33^rd Avenue.

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Deputies said about $4,200 worth of damage was caused by the fire to property belonging to the Board of Commissioners, including about 45 feet of a fence and five 18-inch drainage pipes.

Authorities said Serrano was detained Tuesday after two Department of Transportation and Public Works employees spotted him near Northwest 33^rd Avenue and 37^th Street and flagged down a deputy.

Serrano was arrested on charges of second-degree arson and criminal mischief.

Deputies said he invoked his right to counsel and did not answer questions about the fire.

As of Wednesday morning, Serrano was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Online jail records listed his total bond as “to be set.”

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