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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 a report.
The suspect, identified as Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, is a Mexican national who is in the United States illegally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sources told Fox News.
He was chased and taken down by residents of Woodland Hills after they allegedly saw 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 will place a detainer request on him, but the federal agency does not expect it to be honored due to California’s sanctuary state law, sources told Fox News.
California’s sanctuary state law, passed in 2017, ensures that no state resources are used to assist federal immigration enforcement.
Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance in November that prohibits the use of city resources and personnel to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
Video that went viral shows neighbors cornering and then detaining Sierra-Leyva as he holds what one resident described as a “flamethrower” on the street, with one man yelling at him: “Put it down!”
Renata Grinshpun told KTLA she was in her backyard when she heard a car screech to a stop and a man yelling that someone was trying to start a fire.
“A few gentlemen surrounded him and got him on his knees. They got some zip ties, a rope and we were able to do a citizens’ arrest,” Grinshpun said.
LAPD responded and arrested Sierra-Leyva, video from the scene shows. The major crimes squad was called in because he was “a possible arson suspect” — but no arson charges were brought against him, Choi told reporters Friday.
It was not immediately clear what felony Sierra-Leyva was on parole for.
The Kenneth Fire burned more than 1,050 acres over three days in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. It was completely contained by Sunday morning.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
