INVADER NEWS: Suspect Arrested With ‘flamethrower’ Near LA Fire is an Illegal Immigrant: Sources; LAPD Claims ‘No Probable Cause’ for Arson as Suspect Caught with Blowtorch Attempting to Ignite Fires

By admin On Jan 13, 2025

Suspect arrested with ‘flamethrower’ near LA Fire is an illegal immigrant: sources

The homeless man tackled and zip-tied by onlookers who say he was trying to start fires with a blowtorch near a Los Angeles wildfire is an illegal immigrant who will likely be protected by California’s sanctuary city status, according to sources.

The suspect is Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, a Mexican national who is in the United States illegally, sources told The Post.

He was chased and taken down by residents of Woodland Hills after they allegedly saw him torching old Christmas trees and debris on fire with what one resident described as a “flamethrower” soon after the massive wildfire began Thursday.

The suspect is being held on a felony probation violation, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said, without detailing his previous conviction.

Detectives are still investigating it as possible arson, but LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said Friday that there was not immediately enough evidence for that charge.

ICE placed a detainer request on him three days ago, but the federal agency does not expect it to be honored due to California’s sanctuary state law, sources said.

“The lack of communication between local and federal law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles due to sanctuary policies put in place by LA city council and Governor [Gavin] Newsom, have resulted in many arrests that have been unreported to and followed up by ICE,” a law enforcement source told The Post.

“Many of which are criminals who have numerous encounters with local law enforcement for serious crimes,” they added.

California’s sanctuary state law, passed in 2017, ensures that no state resources are used to assist federal immigration enforcement. —>READ MORE HERE

LAPD Claims ‘No Probable Cause’ for Arson as Suspect Caught with Blowtorch Attempting to Ignite Fires

A man apprehended near the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles will not face arson charges due to insufficient evidence, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was detained on Thursday after witnesses reported observing him attempting to ignite a fire on Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills.

Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said during a press conference on Friday:

“They interviewed this suspect. 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, and therefore this person was arrested on a felony probation violation.

This investigation is ongoing, however, and I’d like to thank those community members that were involved in this and helping us bring this person our attention, and so we can have an ongoing investigation.”