LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Amid high fire danger in the Southland and continuing battles against two major wildfires, three people were arrested over the past few days in Los Angeles for allegedly starting small fires that were quickly extinguished, police Chief Jim McDonnell said Tuesday.
The first arrest occurred Sunday night in North Hollywood, where officers responded to a report of a possible arson suspect who was using a barbecue lighter to set fires. Officers located the suspect and arrested him on a felony arson warrant.
Two more arrests occurred Monday.
The first was made when officers responded to Van Nuys Boulevard on a report of a person setting fire to brush. According to McDonnell, when officers arrived, the Los Angeles Fire Department was already on the scene dousing the blaze, and firefighters directed officers to the suspect. That person was booked on suspicion of arson.
A second arrest was made along San Vicente Boulevard in West Los Angeles, were a suspect was spotted setting fire to a trash can, McDonnell said. Residents directed responding officers to the suspect, who was taken into custody, and the fire was doused. McDonnell said video from a nearby business caught the suspect starting the fire.
None of the suspects’ names were released.
Last Thursday, police arrested a man in the Woodland Hills area shortly after the Kenneth Fire began in nearby West Hills. LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said last week residents reported seeing the man trying to start and fire, and they detained him until officers arrived. Choi said officers ultimately determined the man was not connected to the Kenneth Fire, and there was “not enough probably cause” to arrest him as an arson suspect, but he was arrested on a felony probation violation.
McDonnell said Tuesday the LAPD has made 14 arrests in Palisades Fire burn area, including curfew violations, impersonating a police officer, impersonating a firefighter, DUI, vandalism, ammunition possession, burglary and other offenses.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the sheriff’s department has made a total of 39 arrests in fire areas patrolled by that agency, including curfew violations, burglaries and two drone incidents. Luna says no new human remains were discovered Monday in sheriff-controlled areas.
The Santa Monica Police Department has reported about 40 arrests in fire evacuation areas in that city.
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