Posted on 12/13/2007 3:58:01 PM PST by BurbankKarl
Los Angeles County sheriff's arson investigators said today that they were making a series of arrests in connection with a wind-driven brush fire that destroyed dozens of homes Thanksgiving weekend as it swept through Corral Canyon in Malibu.
The suspects range in age from 18 to 27, said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore. He said investigators would disclose the identities of the men at a news conference this afternoon at the Sheriff's Department bureau in Monterey Park.
Authorities said the suspects were having an illegal late-night campfire near a cave when the blaze broke out. Investigators found evidence such as alcohol containers, food wrappers and bundled fire logs, Whitmore said. The next step was finding where the items came from.
"Investigators began checking local businesses for any information regarding the purchase of these items," Whitmore said. They quickly got their break at a nearby supermarket.
"They checked store receipts at a Ralphs market in Malibu and found one revealed a possible purchase of the items in question," Whitmore said. "With probable cause, they then got a search warrant allowing investigators to retrieve information from the debit card which authorities believe was used to purchase the items."
That information led them to a witness," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Are they part of a specific group? e.g. wacko activists?
Not sure...will have to see what they said in the press conference....those photos match the names, ages and culver city HS....
I especially like the Satanic lookin' tat ... groovy, dude.
And there's the cue for FR to completely lose interest in this thread.
Well... um... Lavorante! AH HA!! That's a Mexicanish name ain't it?
DEPORT 'EM ALL!!!
Are they just random California guys or are they activists of some sort?
They look like Donnie Bonaduce’s offspring.LOL
“Party!”
Looks like three pictures of the same guy.
Damn, they don’t look swarthy/Mexican enough. They look like good boys, Must have been an accidental fire in that case.
[/sarc]
See post #29
8^)
She lost her home? Darn. She always seemed like a nice lady.
You’re sarcasm is well taken. There are more than enough examples of real crime being committed by our illegal visitors for Freepers to resort to jumping to conclusions.
Im sure they’re not activists.
They’re just ‘young’ boys who went to have fun and things may have gotten out of control.
We’ve all been there.. go out and party.. sometimes you’re just lucky and things don’t go wrong.. other times parties just get out of control.
Ive been watching the news.. and I completely agree with punishment for all the property loss... thank god no lives were taken.
But whats sad.. is how they are being branded ‘criminals’ are they criminals? Did they intentionally go to what people call the ‘cave’ to start a fire? There is such thing as accidents.. Have you guys ever been there? There are no signs what so ever stating no bonfires .. lol.. I was there once awhile ago.. criminals is not the correct word.. (this was said in the news!)
Yes it may be common sense .. but so many young people go there to party.. ugh I’ll continue with this one later.
Number 2 - California, I'm sure, posts warnings about starting fires in dangerous conditions --> like the Santa Ana winds.
Right back to the ages of these young MEN -->They knew or should have known better.
Young boys are 12-17... and in some instances it's ok to make allowances for them but even they would have to take responsibility for their actions if they set fires accidentally or deliberately.
From news reports, there were many victims who lost their homes.
Arrested in the sweep: Brian Allen Anderson, 22, William Thomas Coppock, 23, Brian David Franks, 27, all of Los Angeles; as well as Eric Matthew Ullman, 18, and Dean Allen Lavorante, 19, both of Culver City, said sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Why did you assume illegals? They don’t sound like illegal names to me. What is your source?
Thought maybe it was homeless illegals who accidently set the fires.
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