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Fox News reported that police and residents of Azusa, California, a small city in Los Angeles County, worked in unison Friday to prevent a suspected arsonist from allegedly carrying out his sick goal of lighting more fires.
At least three large wildfires threaten the area as winds are expected to pick up again.
With more cops patrolling due to the wildfire emergency, Azusa Police Department Captain Robert Landeros reported that the first responding officer arrived quickly at Pioneer Park around 11:30 p.m. This followed after neighbors confronted a homeless suspect, who was still at the scene when the officer arrived.
"This was intentional," Landeros stated on Monday. "Some of the neighbors confronted him, stopped him from setting an additional fire in the park."
Video footage captured an Azusa officer handcuffing a man near a rapidly spreading brush fire, which county firefighters managed to extinguish swiftly.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Jose Carranza-Escobar, described as "a transient" with his last known address in Azusa, confessed to igniting the brush fire.
This arrest occurs as firefighters are tackling at least three active wildfires in Los Angeles County, which have resulted in at least 24 deaths and widespread property damage.
Carranza was detained on arson charges. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman was scheduled to provide further details in a news briefing about Carranza and arrests related to fire-related looting later that Monday.
Landeros emphasized that Azusa police, along with partner agencies including Hochman's office, the county sheriff's office, neighboring department arson investigators, and the California National Guard, are adopting a "zero-tolerance" policy towards arson amid the conditions of high winds and a dry climate that exacerbate the wildfires across Southern California.
"Everybody’s out there," he said. "We’re watching. Even our citizens are."
He noted that the foothills near the town are considered a high-risk fire area with homeless encampments where fires have previously started.
"We're constantly conducting enforcement operations in that area," Landeros explained. "Residents are obviously on edge when there are major fires."
Forecasts predict strong winds returning to the region this week, which could intensify the ongoing fires and cause additional hazards by knocking down trees and branches that could catch fire.
"Azusa PD urges everyone to remain alert as fires continue to affect the county," Landeros said in a weekend statement. "We must be cautious of individuals who may enter our community with the intent to start fires."
Last week, another incident saw a group of Los Angeles residents intervening when they spotted a homeless man with a blowtorch. He was apprehended, but the police lacked sufficient evidence to charge him with arson.
Video from that event shows him with a torch head and a yellow fuel tank before being subdued by at least five residents who tackled him to the ground.
With more cops patrolling due to the wildfire emergency, Azusa Police Department Captain Robert Landeros reported that the first responding officer arrived quickly at Pioneer Park around 11:30 p.m. This followed after neighbors confronted a homeless suspect, who was still at the scene when the officer arrived.
"This was intentional," Landeros stated on Monday. "Some of the neighbors confronted him, stopped him from setting an additional fire in the park."
Video footage captured an Azusa officer handcuffing a man near a rapidly spreading brush fire, which county firefighters managed to extinguish swiftly.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Jose Carranza-Escobar, described as "a transient" with his last known address in Azusa, confessed to igniting the brush fire.
This arrest occurs as firefighters are tackling at least three active wildfires in Los Angeles County, which have resulted in at least 24 deaths and widespread property damage.
Carranza was detained on arson charges. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman was scheduled to provide further details in a news briefing about Carranza and arrests related to fire-related looting later that Monday.
Landeros emphasized that Azusa police, along with partner agencies including Hochman's office, the county sheriff's office, neighboring department arson investigators, and the California National Guard, are adopting a "zero-tolerance" policy towards arson amid the conditions of high winds and a dry climate that exacerbate the wildfires across Southern California.
"Everybody’s out there," he said. "We’re watching. Even our citizens are."
He noted that the foothills near the town are considered a high-risk fire area with homeless encampments where fires have previously started.
"We're constantly conducting enforcement operations in that area," Landeros explained. "Residents are obviously on edge when there are major fires."
Forecasts predict strong winds returning to the region this week, which could intensify the ongoing fires and cause additional hazards by knocking down trees and branches that could catch fire.
"Azusa PD urges everyone to remain alert as fires continue to affect the county," Landeros said in a weekend statement. "We must be cautious of individuals who may enter our community with the intent to start fires."
Last week, another incident saw a group of Los Angeles residents intervening when they spotted a homeless man with a blowtorch. He was apprehended, but the police lacked sufficient evidence to charge him with arson.
Video from that event shows him with a torch head and a yellow fuel tank before being subdued by at least five residents who tackled him to the ground.
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