Officers arrested a man for arson on Sunday afternoon after firefighters caught him actively starting fires in Irwindale, according to the city’s police department.
Irwindale Police reported that crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department were in the area responding to a small brush fire near Rivergrade Road and the 605 Freeway around 12:30 p.m. when they observed the arsonist in action.
Police officers quickly responded to the scene and detained the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Ruben Montes of Baldwin Park. While details are limited and initial reports did not specify where Montes was booked, police confirmed that he was arrested for arson.
Irwindale Police expressed gratitude for the teamwork, stating, “We thank our partners at LACOFD for their swift actions and collaboration in bringing this dangerous situation under control,” in a post on X.
This latest event comes as there have already been multiple individuals that have been arrested for arson through regions across Southern California. For example,
An arson suspect was arrested Thursday night near the Kenneth Fire area as fire crews continue battling flames burning near homes in Calabasas and West Hills.
At around 4:30 p.m., Los Angeles police responded to reports of a man attempting to light a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills.
Residents who spotted the suspect held him down until officers arrived. Photos shared on the Citizen app show officers surrounding a home where the man was handcuffed. The suspect was later released after there was no probable cause.
Then there was a 60-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of arson near Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu.
The arrest followed reports of a brush fire in the area, which firefighters quickly contained.
Authorities have not released the woman’s identity or details about the incident.
Leo Carrillo State Park, known for its scenic beauty and popular camping sites, has previously been affected by wildfires, including the devastating Woolsey Fire in 2018.
