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A police officer arrests Jose Gerardo Escobar for alleged arson in Azusa. | Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
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Eight individuals who allegedly looted homes during the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County have been charged with residential burglary and two others have been charged with other offenses, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday.
One of the nonburglary charges was for alleged arson in connection with a fire set at an Azusa park.
“These crimes are appalling and represent a direct attack on our community during a time of unprecedented loss and vulnerability,” Hochman said in a statements. “Let me be clear: If you exploit this tragedy to prey on victims of these deadly fires, we will find you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
Roy Sims, 18; Ryan Sims, 19; Naquan Dewey Reddix, 22; and Pierie Obannon, 19, each were charged with one count of first-degree residential burglary. The alleged looters are believed to have taken a variety of items from a home in Altadena on Jan. 8, including an Emmy Award that belonged to the resident, Hochman said at a media briefing Monday in downtown LA.
Rudy Salazar, 19, and Lucia Jilrara Perez, 36, each were charged with two counts of first-degree residential burglary. The pair allegedly entered two homes and stole property during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on the afternoon of Jan. 8, the district attorney said.
Martrell Peoples, 22, and Damari Bell, 21, were charged with one count each of first-degree residential burglary and looting during an emergency or evacuation involving a home. The alleged looting occurred in LA’s Mandeville Canyon area between the late evening hours of Jan. 8 and the early morning of Jan. 9 and was caught on a Ring camera, the DA said.
Peoples is a possible third-strike defendant who could face life in prison if convicted, and Bell is a potential second-strike defendant who could face a nearly 23-year sentence, according to the DA’s office. They were tracked to an apartment in Koreatown, where the suspects were arrested while allegedly in possession of items that had been stolen, Hochman said.
Travon Coleman, 27, allegedly accompanied Bell and Poeples outside of the Koreatown apartment, fled in another vehicle that went through a traffic light and struck another vehicle causing an occupant to suffer a concussion, the district attorney said. Coleman is also facing a potential third-strike with a life sentence if he is convicted of a felony count of hit-and-run causing great bodily injury, according to Hochman.
The 10th suspect is 39-year-old Jose Gerardo Escobar. He was charged with one count each of arson, arson during a state of emergency and attempted arson involving a blaze that was quickly knocked down Friday night at Pioneer Park in Azusa.
Escobar is accused of trying to set fire to a large tree that had fallen to the ground at the park, located at 1360 N. Dalton Avenue.
Azusa police arrested Escobar, who they said was experiencing homelessness. He was being held in West Covina on $20,000 bail, Hochman said. If convicted, Escobar faces nine years in prison.
Carranza-Escobar’s last known address was in Azusa, police said. The Azusa Police Department has staffed extra officers on duty due to the ongoing fire situations.
Anyone with any information regarding the alleged arson in Pioneer Park was urged to call the Azusa Police Department, 626-812-3200. Anonymous tipsters may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submit tips online via lacrimestoppers.org.
Hochman highlighted the importance of complying with curfews in fire-affected areas.
“These curfews are in place to protect residents and ensure public safety,” he said in a statement. “Anyone who violates them will face serious consequences,” Hochman said. “Our office is fully committed to getting these criminals off the streets and putting them on alert: We will not tolerate this kind of lawlessness.”
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna urged people who do not have any “legitimate business” in active curfew areas between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. to stay away.
The sheriff reported earlier that over 30 people had been arrested for looting and other crimes in the burn areas.
“Whether we are talking about burglary, looting, we’re talking about scams, we’re talking about the misuse of drones, whatever it is, we’re going to get you,” Luna said. “Do not make this worse than it already is. We’re in the middle of this. We have a lot of work to do.”
In Santa Monica near the area of the more than 23,000-acre Palisades Fire, police have arrested more than 40 people, mostly for curfew violations, but some for burglary or possession of burglary tools.
