As at least three huge wildfires threaten the region and winds are likely to kick up again, the police and people of Azusa, California, a tiny community in Los Angeles County, collaborated on Friday to put a stop to a person who is suspected of setting fire to property.
Capt. Robert Landeros of the Azusa Police Department stated that the first responding officer arrived at the scene at Pioneer Park around 11:30 p.m. after neighbors confronted the homeless suspect, who was still there when the first officer arrived.
This was in response to the increased number of officers on patrol in the midst of the wildfire emergency.
It was Landeros who stated, “This was done on purpose.” “Some of the neighbors confronted him, stopped him from setting an additional fire in the park.”
An cop from Azusa is shown on video placing a man in handcuffs just a few steps away from a raging brush fire, which, according to the authorities, was promptly put out by firemen from the county.
Jose Carranza-Escobar, 39 years old, has been recognized as the suspect by the police. Carranza-Escobar is considered to be “a transient” and his last known address was also in Azusa. Apparently, he admitted to being the one who started the brush fire.
A total of at least 24 people have been murdered and thousands of homes and businesses have been damaged as a result of the flames that are currently burning in Los Angeles County. The arrest comes as firefighters continue to fight these fires.
Carranza-Escobar is facing three distinct allegations of arson, and if he is found guilty, he may be sentenced to nine years in state prison.
The high winds and dry climate are fueling raging wildfires across Southern California, according to Landeros, who stated that Azusa police and partner agencies, such as the office of the district attorney for Los Angeles County, Nathan Hochman, the office of the county sheriff, arson investigators in neighboring departments, and the California National Guard, are taking a “zero-tolerance” approach to the act of arson.
“Everybody’s out there,” he stated. “We’re watching. Even our citizens are.”
Hochman announced at a press conference that ten individuals have been taken into custody for the offenses of looting and arson as of Monday night. The looting that occurred during the Palisades and Eden fires has resulted in nine arrests, and one individual has been taken into custody for the crime of arson.
According to Hochman, Damari Bell and Martrell Peoples have been faced with charges of first-degree domestic burglary, looting, and grand theft.
These charges stem from the fact that both individuals are accused of stealing items valued more than two hundred thousand dollars.
Due to the Three Strikes Law in California, Peoples, who has a history of committing felonies, might be subject to a potential sentence of life in prison if he is found guilty.
According to the allegations, Travon Coleman, who was driving a second vehicle and accompanied Bell and Peoples as they exited a Koreatown apartment, drove off while Bell and Peoples were halted, ran a red light, and collided with another vehicle.
In addition to being charged with one count of felony hit-and-run causing serious bodily injury, Coleman is also facing the possibility of receiving a maximum term of life in prison in accordance with the Three Strikes Law.
As well as being a high-risk fire location, the foothills outside of town are also home to homeless encampments, which are places where fires have been started in the past, according to him.
“We’re constantly conducting enforcement operations in that area,” he stated. “Residents are obviously on edge when there are major fires.”
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It is anticipated that strong winds will return to the region this week, which may contribute to the fueling of the flames that are already in progress while firefighters continue to fight them.
In addition to fanning flames, winds have the ability to bring down trees and branches that are flammable.
“Azusa PD urges everyone to remain alert as fires continue to affect the county,” Landeros stated. “We must be cautious of individuals who may enter our community with the intent to start fires.”
Another group of people living in Los Angeles stopped a homeless man who was seen with a blowtorch at the beginning of the previous week.
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It was reported that the police did not have sufficient evidence to charge him with arson, despite the fact that he was brought into prison.
In the video of that event, he can be seen holding a torch head and a yellow fuel tank before a group of at least five locals encircled him and tackled him to the ground.
