Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
A man charged with arson and a group from looters Attacking homes in evacuation zones amid wildfires in Los Angeles County has been charged, officials said Monday.
The charges were filed against a group of people accused of looting residential areas in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas, while arson charges were filed against a man in Azusa, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a news conference.
“These are the people who want to exploit this tragedy for their own gain,” Hochman said. “These are people who took part in looting and arson. We have also investigated price gouging and will investigate internet fraud and the like.”
Important phone numbers for Los Angeles residents and how you can help them
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman speaks during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, about the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents decades ago. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Three suspects, identified as Martrell Peoples, Damari Bell and Travon Coleman, committed home burglaries in Mandeville Canyon hours after the fires broke out, stealing more than $200,000 worth of merchandise, Hochman said. They were spotted on a Ring camera at a home, he said.
They were eventually linked to an apartment in Koreatown where they were arrested. According to officials, several stolen items were recovered from this home.
Peoples, who has already suffered two strikes, faces a third, meaning he faces life in prison under California’s Three Strikes Law, authorities said. Bell faces 22 years in prison.
Other defendants include Rudy Salazar and Lucia Jilrara Perez, who each face two counts of first-degree residential burglary in connection with looting in Altadena on Jan. 8 as the Eaton fire raged. The pair are said to have broken into two houses and were caught entering a third.
Everything you need to know about California wildfire water drops
Screenshot of looting suspects at a home in Pacific Palisades. (Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office)
A third group of suspected looters stole from a house in Altadenaincluding an Emmy Award that was recovered, authorities said. They have been identified as Roy Sims, Ryan Sims Quan, Naquan Dewey Reddix and Pierie Obannon.
“Isn’t it bad enough in the Palisades area and the fires we’ve seen in Los Angeles that potentially 40,000 people have been evacuated from one area and then a handful of people come up wanting to go up?” Intention to victimize them,” said Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Blake Chow. “It’s not enough that they have to take care of their property, reconstruction and things like that.”
Arsonist Jose Carranza-Escobar is accused of trying to set fire to a large tree that fell to the ground in Pioneer Park. He was seen “standing next to the flames” and was immediately arrested, police said at the time of his arrest.
“During the investigation, Carranza admitted to setting the fire and was arrested for arson,” a police statement said.
Using salt water to suppress flames brings immediate benefits but long-term risks
Azusa police have arrested 39-year-old homeless arson suspect Jose Carranza-Escobar just steps from a small brush fire he allegedly lit as Los Angeles battles several large wildfires. (Obtained from Fox News Digital)
Escobar faces nine years in prison and was expected to be arraigned on Monday.
Authorities have warned potential criminals not to attack evacuated homes. In Santa Monicia, authorities have arrested at least 10 burglary suspects since the Palisades fire began last week.
Looting at a house in Altadena during fires. (Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office)
Had six Burglary tools At their home, a couple had the Watch Duty app open on their phone to track evacuation zones, sources told Fox News. Santa Monica police said officers were able to stop the break-ins before they occurred.
In total, Santa Monica police arrested 39 people in evacuation zones. None of the suspects live in the city.
(Left to right) Joshua Kaliel Love, Miguel Angel Dorantes, Gabriel Asaih Stokes and Dominic Pachecomanga were four of 10 suspects charged with burglaries in the Palisades Fire evacuation zones in Santa Monica. (Santa Monica Police Department)
Those not charged with attempted burglary were arrested for curfew violations, drug possession, warrants and probation violations. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has arrested 34 people since the fires began. Sheriff Robert Luna said in a separate news conference on Monday.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“This is a strong message from all of us that we are here and we mean business when we catch people,” he said. “If you don’t have a legitimate business in these areas, stay out because our deputies are stopping people in a constitutional way, I might add, and they are asking people questions.”
“We come with narcotics. We come with people carrying weapons. And guess what? None of them live in these areas,” he added.
