`GREAT HOUDINI' SUSPECT ARRESTED IN ARSON CASES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A 19-year-old man called a ``vanity arsonist'' was arrested while attempting to buy a car after twice faking his death, deputies said.

Authorities said Daniel Allen set fire twice to an Adelanto apartment complex - where he lived with his wife and child - so he could rescue the occupants and be considered a hero.

Allen was arrested Monday night as he attempted to buy a car from Pioneer Honda, claiming to be the chief executive officer of his former employer.

``I call him the `Great Houdini,' '' said Deputy Steve Harbeson, who had been investigating Allen for the past month. ``He came back from the dead and tried to buy a car. That's a better trick than you and I can do.''

After officials in San Bernardino County obtained a warrant for Allen's arrest on suspicion of arson, a relative told authorities Allen was dead and presented a death certificate.

After officials didn't take the death certificate seriously, his mother and pregnant wife brought to the Lancaster sheriff's station Aug. 20 a suicide note they said Allen had written, Harbeson said.

The note mentioned the Adelanto deputy fire chief and deputies who had been investigating him and said he was going to the California Aqueduct.

A sheriff's helicopter crew searched the aqueduct but found no body.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies became involved in the case when the owners of the Lancaster tile company where he had worked reported that they believed Allen had stolen and used their credit cards.

The owners said Allen took credit cards on different occasions in May, June and July, and used them to purchase gasoline, condoms, hotel rooms and candy, Harbeson said.

``He says that they (the owners) authorized him to use the cards,'' said Harbeson, adding that Allen always signed his real name.

``He has excuses for everything,'' Harbeson added. ``He says the car salesman misunderstood him. He said he never said he was a CEO.''

Officials said the car salesman became suspicious when Allen couldn't provide a phone number for the company of which he claimed to be chief executive. When the salesman called the company, he was told to call the police.

Allen had left while the salesman checked on him. But he returned and was arrested after the salesman called him and told him it was OK to pick up the car, deputies said.