Man (gentleman?) Seen Starting Fires With Blow Torch in LA County Not Charged With Arson

 Debra Heine; American Greatness  

"The Daily Mail has interviewed a fireman who claims two men were caught on video dumping gasoline and setting it alight immediately before the Palisades fire broke out."

"A suspect seen starting fires with a blow torch in a Los Angeles neighborhood Thursday afternoon is not being charged with arson because a police investigation found “no probable cause.” The man is still being detained on a felony probation violation amid the ongoing investigation, Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said in a press conference Friday.

"The arrest comes amid growing speculation that at least some of the LA fires were started by arsonists.

"The suspect was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of arson near the Kenneth fire, a wildfire that started at about 2:30, Thursday afternoon. The suspect, believed to be a homeless man, had reportedly been seen riding around on a bicycle in Woodland Hills Thursday afternoon, attempting to set numerous old Christmas trees and garbage cans on fire with a blow torch

"A resident saw the man wielding a yellow blow torch and called on his neighbors to help him apprehend the suspected arsonist. The neighbors banded together, using zip ties and rope to detain the man.

"With help from neighbors, they cornered him and made the citizens arrest.

" 'We really banded together as a group. A few gentlemen surrounded him and got him on his knees. They got some zip ties, a rope and we were able to do a citizens’ arrest,” a witness said.

"The suspect was described as agitated and like “he was on something.”

" 'He was very like, ‘I can’t stop, I can’t stop'” a resident told Fox11. “I’m not putting this down. I’m doing this.”

"The restrained man is believed to be in his mid-twenties to early thirties and allegedly speaks Spanish as his first language. Authorities have not revealed the suspect’s identity.

"The witness said the man was “very focused on moving forward with his blow torch.” . . .

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14277339/los-angeles-fires-interactive-map-destroyed-homes.html

California Fires: At Least Two People Arrested, Accused of Arson 

. . ."The Los Angeles County Fire Department was able to quickly put out the fire." . . .