10 people have been charged with crimes committed during the Palisades and Eaton fires, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference Monday, Jan. 13.
“These felony charges are the result of a multi-agency collaboration,” said Hochman. “It has been nothing short of incredibly impressive to be able to bring these charges this quickly.”
Martrell Peoples and Damari Bell are each charged with one count of first-degree residential burglary and looting during an emergency or evacuation: grand theft. The two men are accused of looting a home in the early morning hours of Jan. 9 in the Mandeville Canyon area of Los Angeles.
More than $200,000 worth of goods was allegedly stolen from the home, CBS News reported.
Travon Coleman is charged with one count of felony hit-and-run after he allegedly attempted to evade police, crashing into a vehicle and injuring the driver. He allegedly fled the scene.
Six others — Rudy Salazar, Lucia Jilrara Perez, Roy Sims, Ryan Sims, Naquan Dewey Reddix and Pierie Obannon — are charged with stealing property from homes during the Eaton Fire in Altadena.
Police recovered an Emmy award, which was stolen during one of the incidents.
Hochman said another suspect, Jose Gerardo Escobar, was charged with arson and attempted arson for trying to light a large tree on fire in a park in the city of Azusa. That charge is not related to the wildfires.
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“You’re not gonna get away with it, and this team is not gonna let you get away with it,” LAPD Assistant Chief Blake Chow said at the press conference. “I just wanted to tell the residents of Los Angeles, this team has your back. And as you can see with the investigation, when we get evidence of a crime, we leave no stone unturned and we find people, and we will bring them to justice and hand them over to the district attorney.”
So far, more than 40 people have been arrested for burglary, looting, curfew violations, possession of narcotics, impersonating an officer, unauthorized drone usage and possession of firearms amid the fires in Los Angeles County.
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The FBI is currently investigating an incident in which a private drone collided with an aircraft working to put out the wildfires.
An FBI spokesperson told PEOPLE that the firefighting aircraft, known as a “super scooper,” was “thankfully” able to land safely after the collision with the drone. Nonetheless, the spokesperson added, the aircraft’s left wing was “heavily damaged” in the crash.
The FBI spokesperson added that “while we have conducted a significant investigation working with our partners in the public and private sector, and are continuing to make progress, we are seeking the public’s help in order to identify the operator of the drone.”
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Last week, in response to the uptick in arrests in the ravaged areas of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena and Pasadena where residents have been forced to evacuate, authorities asked the California National Guard for assistance. Hundreds have since been deployed.
“Thanks to the incredible work of our first responders and emergency personnel, we’re throwing everything at our disposal — including our National Guard servicemembers — to protect communities in the days to come,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press release on Jan. 9. “And to those who would seek to take advantage of evacuated communities, let me be clear: looting will not be tolerated.”
Authorities issued a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew last week in evacuation and warning zones area in Los Angeles County to help prevent looting.
Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.
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