Something terrible is happening in Los Angeles, and it may impact those planning on revelling in New Years Eve festivities. The recent serial arson fires are impacting communities all over Los Angeles, and it is a horrible serious crime. At this point there have been minor injuries and no deaths, but the brazen tactics recklessly engaged in by the person or persons setting the fires clearly show no regard for injury to human life. At this point the string of crimes is so unbelievable, massive efforts and manpower between LAPD, LAFD and LASD are on a round-the-clock hunt for the suspect(s). From discussions with law enforcement, this is bridging on being classified an act of domestic terrorism which will then involve the FBI and other government agencies. If someone dies and it becomes murder it will be a sentencing game-changer for anyone involved.
For the past two nights as fires were set all over Los Angeles the search has been on for the suspect(s). On Friday night while monitoring various scanners LAPD and LAFD detained a series of suspects on foot, in cars and on motorcycles. Although hope spread on Twitter among the hundreds that were awakened along the perimeter of the various crimes, all suspects were released. A focus however has been on the map. The locations where the fires have been set reveal that the individual or individuals are able to exit quickly and move swiftly to a new location. At one point firefighters expressed frustration as one blaze was clearly set a block away while they were on the scene of another. Several eye witness accounts put suspects on motorcycles. Although unnamed law enforcement sources have confirmed that “multiple sources of video footage from the crimes with possible suspects” exist, the situation is too volatile to release details at this point. In broad strokes, it is suspected that the perpetrator(s) travel on motorcycle, and there may be more than one.
An incident that can’t be ignored in all of this is that the night before the massive string of fires erupted, was the arrest of Samuel Arrington, 22, of Sunland who was arrested on December 29th for setting multiple fires in the Hollywood area. Those fires included a dumpster, a carport and a trash can. He was apprehended trying to set two diesel fuel tanks on a truck on fire. After his arrest, the serial arson rampage began. Theories have circulated that given attitudes perpetuated by the “occupy” and “anonymous” movements - persons associated with Arrington or those just seeking destructive attention predicated on those who own or have anything could be possible motives. The “tolerance” perpetuated by Mayor Antonio Villaraogosa in directing LAPD on how the occupy movements were handled in LA may have bred the idea that committing crimes and bucking the system in the spirit of their movement is not only going to be tolerated by the mayor and local government, but also heralded and duplicated by a nationwide group. The bad news for anyone caught associated with this is that part of a group or not, any suspects apprehended will be facing the weight of potential responsibility for all of the fires. According to an anonymous law enforcement official, “If this flips into being classified as domestic terrorism - expect a few life sentences”.
So where does this leave us on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, and the potential of night #4 of arson attacks and possibly a third night of a citywide Tactical Alert ( which means all law enforcement resources stay on post and are on call as resources if needed for an emergency )? It would be safe to assume that there will be little tolerance for schenannigans. Between CHP’s “zero tolerance” weekend for distracted driving, multiple DUI checkpoints and mass efforts being allocated to the arson fires - the entire City is having fun swapped for fear as the hunt for the suspects grips all corners of LA. Monitoring the scanners from Venice where we normally cover LAPD Pacific Division, all officers on duty were held over and several were dispatched to Hollywood to assist with the arson fires, and holding the scenes as crime scenes until LAFD arson investigators could arrive.
A week ago the biggest concern on behalf of LAPD for New Years Eve was people firing guns into the air and drunk drivers. Tonight, that grim reality is coupled with knowing that families could be displaced from their homes by fire, damage to vehicles and property costing hundreds of thousands and impacting peoples lives and work, and possible serious injury or death may continue to send law enforcement and fire fighters running all over the city chasing the 2011 LA arsonists. Let’s hope we ring in 2012 with no injuries, and the necessary arrests.
Follow @lapdscanner @hollywoodla311 @koreatown311 and @venice311 on Twitter for live LAPD and Fire Department updates throughout the night. Happy, Safe New Year.
Anyone with information can call any information into the N Hollywood Area Station at (818) 623-4061. You may also to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts
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