A suspect with a blowtorch who was “subdued by residents” and arrested by police officers near the Kenneth wildfire in West Hills, California, is reportedly an illegal immigrant from Mexico.
A viral video on X, formerly Twitter, shows a man with a blowtorch being confronted and restrained by local California residents until police officers arrive at the scene.
On Sunday night, Bill Melugin, a Fox News correspondent, reported that the suspect’s identify had been confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sources, tweeting, “Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents & arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the #KennethFire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva.”
According to Melugin, Sierra-Leyva is being held in police custody due to a probation violation but has not been charged with arson.
“I’m told ICE will place a detainer request on him with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, but they do not expect it to be honored due to California’s Sanctuary State law,” Melugin added. “I’m told Sierra-Leyva will have a court appearance tomorrow. Again – he has not been charged w/ arson and is in custody only on a probation violation at the moment, as multiple agencies have been interviewing him.”
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During a news conference on Friday, Los Angeles Police Department Divisional Chief Dominic Choi explained that law enforcement officials investigated the case, interviewed Sierra-Leyva, and determined that the suspect could not be arrested on charges of arson, according to Fox 59.
Choi said, “After the interview and additional investigative steps, looking at some additional evidence that was present, they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson.”
“The investigation is ongoing,” Choi added. “I would like to thank those community members that were involved … in bringing this person to our attention.”
Asked whether police officials believe the Kenneth fire was started intentionally, Charles Dinsel, the Los Angeles Police Department’s senior lead officer, said, “At this time that’s what we believe, yes.” Dinsel also noted that the fire was “being investigated as a crime.”
A law enforcement source told The New York Post that a “lack of communication” between federal and local law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles caused by “sanctuary policies” championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) and Los Angeles lawmakers “have resulted in many arrests that have been unreported to and followed up by ICE.”
The source added, “Many of which are criminals who have numerous encounters with local law enforcement for serious crimes.”