Federal Arson Investigators Sent to Probe Fires in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County District Attorney has reported one arrest related to arson and nine arrests in connection to burglaries.
On January 13, local authorities confirmed they have enlisted federal arson specialists to probe the causes of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have claimed the lives of at least 24 individuals and ravaged parts of Los Angeles County in the past week.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada addressed the media, stating, “We are examining all the fires for possible arson.”
A specialized team from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), skilled in managing bombings and significant arson cases, arrived in Los Angeles on Monday to initiate their investigation, per Estrada’s remarks.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna revealed that around 20 drone incursions are registered daily over the fire zones, and the FBI is also conducting an investigation.
He noted that his department has apprehended three individuals for two drone-related incidents since the outbreak of the fire.
Arson
The arson suspect is alleged to have ignited a fire in Azusa, according to Hochman.
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Azusa police apprehended Jose Gerardo Escobar, a 39-year-old homeless man, around 11:30 p.m. on January 10 at Pioneer Park. He is currently held on a $20,000 bail.
Escobar is facing three charges of arson and was scheduled for a court appearance in Covina on Monday, according to Hochman.
“He faces up to nine years in state prison,” Hochman noted.
Residents begin to return to the Pacific Palisades after the destruction of the Palisades Fire near Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025.John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Looting and Burglary
Charges have also been filed against nine additional individuals in three separate cases related to looting and burglary.
In the first situation, Matrell Peoples, 22, and Damari Bell, 21, have been charged with first-degree residential burglary and looting during an emergency or evacuation, which is classified as grand theft. These charges stem from the burglary of a residence in Mandeville Canyon, which was evacuated after the Palisades fire, originating in Pacific Palisades, moved northward.
Prosecutors allege that Peoples committed the offenses while on state prison parole and that Bell was on felony probation.
Additionally, Bell is charged with two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon.
If found guilty, Peoples could face life behind bars, while Bell could serve 22 years and eight months.
The district attorney’s office has advised a bail of $1.1 million for Peoples and $310,000 for Bell.
Surveillance footage from the location captured three men wearing hooded garments and backpacks entering an apartment in the area on January 8.
Afterwards, law enforcement apprehended Peoples and Bell in a vehicle departing the scene. Officers allegedly discovered $200,000 worth of items from the apartment inside their vehicle, as reported by Hochman.
A third individual, Trevon Coleman, 27, allegedly fled the apartment but failed to stop for police. Authorities indicated that Coleman ran a red light and collided with another vehicle, causing injuries to the other driver, including a concussion.
Coleman faces life imprisonment if convicted of inflicting great bodily harm as a felon, according to Hochman.
In a subsequent case, Rudy Salazar, 19, and Lucia Jilrara Perez, 36, are facing two counts each of first-degree residential burglary linked to an alleged break-in at an Altadena home on January 8.
Police claim the suspects entered two different houses around 2:30 p.m. in Altadena, stealing items from both residences, as noted by Hochman.
Both individuals were arrested and could receive a maximum sentence of six years in prison for each count if found guilty, per the district attorney’s office.
The suspects pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on January 10, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 29 in Los Angeles.
In another incident, four individuals are facing charges for one count each of first-degree residential burglary related to early morning burglaries at evacuated homes in Altadena.
Among the stolen property was an Emmy Award, as reported by Hochman.
Charged were Roy Sims, 18, Ryan Sims, 19, Naquan Dewey Reddix, 22, and Pierie Obannon, 19. They each pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on January 10, and a hearing is pending for January 28 in Pasadena. Each could face up to six years in state prison, according to Hochman. Reddix and Obannon posted bail and have since been released.
Curfews remain enforced in the fire-affected areas from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
First responders work together in combating the Palisades Fire as it destroys homes and businesses near Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025.John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
The Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate other potential crimes related to the fires, which include reports of individuals impersonating firefighters to gain unauthorized access to evacuation zones, stated Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton.
“We expect to announce further arrests in the future,” Hamilton noted at the news conference on Monday.
Detectives are currently monitoring social media and conducting undercover operations to aid their investigation, he added.
