The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday that officers arrested a man after a small wildfire in Griffith Park on an unrelated warrant, saying there was no probable cause to detain him on suspicion of starting the fire. Announced.
Kevin A. Calderon, 26, was arrested by officers about a mile from the scene of the fire and was being held on two misdemeanor warrants.
“Sufficient probable cause has not been established to arrest him for arson,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.
Prosecutors had not yet considered Tuesday whether there was enough evidence to file charges in connection with the fire.
The fire was first reported on a hillside below the Griffith Observatory around 1:30 p.m. Monday, a day when parts of Los Angeles County were under a red flag warning.
The brush burn, which was about a quarter of an acre in size, was extinguished by Los Angeles City Park Rangers and LAFD firefighters with the assistance of a water drop helicopter. No buildings were threatened or damaged.
Authorities said a nearby witness saw a man near the hillside where the fire started, took a photo, and shared the photo with police.
“They were able to provide us with a photo of the suspect that they had taken,” said Chief Park Ranger Joe Rosolelli.
Patrol officers with the LAPD’s Northeast Division quickly detained Calderon on Kenmore Avenue south of Franklin and said the photo matched the description given by witnesses.
LAFD arson investigators attended the arrest scene and authorities said they found two items that may be related to the fire.
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