FIRST ON FOX VIDEO: Police and residents of Azusa, California, a small town in Los Angeles County, teamed up Friday to stop a suspected arsonist in his attempt to at least three big forest fires are threatening the region and the winds are expected to strengthen again.
With an increased number of officers on patrol amid the fire emergency, Azusa Police Department Capt. Robert Landeros said the first officer quickly arrived on the scene in Pioneer Park around 11:30 p.m. after neighbors confronted the homeless suspect, who was still there. when the first officer arrived.
“This was intentional,” Landeros told Fox News Digital Monday. “Some of the neighbors stood up to him, stopped him from starting an additional fire in the park.”
The video shows an Azuse police officer handcuffing a man just steps from the brush fire, which authorities say was quickly extinguished by county firefighters.
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Azusa police arrested 39-year-old homeless arson suspect Jose Carranza-Escobar just steps from a small brush fire they say he admitted to starting as Los Angeles battles a number of large wildfires. (obtained by Fox News Digital)
Police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Jose Carranza-Escobar, a “temporary” whose last known address was also in Azusa. They said he admitted to setting the bush fire.
The arrest comes as firefighters continue to battle at least three active forest fires in Los Angeles County that killed at least 24 and damaged thousands of homes and businesses.
Carranza was jailed on arson charges. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman was expected to hold a press briefing later Monday with more information about Carranza and the arrests for the robberies related to the fire.
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Azusa police have arrested Jose Carranza-Escobar, a 39-year-old homeless man suspected of arson, just steps from a small brush fire they say he admitted to starting as Los Angeles battles a number of large wildfires. (obtained by Fox News Digital)
Landeros said Azusa police and partner agencies, including Hochman’s office, the county sheriff’s office, arson investigators in neighboring departments and the California National Guard have a “zero tolerance” approach to arson as high winds and a dry climate fuel wildfires around the world. Southern California.
“Everybody’s out,” he said. “We are watching. Even our citizens.”
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Police in Azusa arrested 39-year-old homeless arson suspect Jose Carranza-Escobar just steps from a small brush fire they say he admitted to starting as Los Angeles battles a number of large fires. (obtained by Fox News Digital)
The foothills outside the city are a high-risk area for fires and also have homeless encampments, where fires have broken out before, he said.
“We conduct all the time enforcement actions in that area,” he said. “Residents are obviously on edge when there are big fires.”
Strong winds are expected to return to the region this week and could fuel existing fires as crews continue to battle them. They can fan fires and bring down trees and branches that can burn.
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“Azusa Police urge everyone to remain vigilant as wildfires continue to affect the county,” Landeros said in a statement over the weekend. “We have to be vigilant about individuals who might come into our community with the intent of starting a fire.”
Last week, another group of Los Angeles residents stopped a homeless man they saw carrying a blower. He was taken into custody, but police said there was not enough evidence to charge him with arson.
Video of the incident shows him holding a flashlight head and a yellow fuel tank before at least five residents surround him and knock him to the ground.
