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It has now been revealed that the man who was caught riding around Woodland Hills, California with a flamethrower, or blowtorch, on Thursday was actually an illegal alien from Mexico.
The incident happened not far from where one of the fires had broken out in the Los Angeles area. Local residents saw the man riding on a bicycle, and said he was trying to set fire to some old Christmas trees and garbage cans.
The local residents all jumped into action and apprehended the man themselves, holding him until police arrived.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin announced Sunday evening:
Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents & arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the Kenneth Fire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva. He is in custody on a probation violation & has NOT been charged w/ arson.
I’m told ICE will place a detainer request on him with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, but they do not expect it to be honored due to California’s Sanctuary State law.
I’m told Sierra-Leyva will have a court appearance tomorrow. Again – he has not been charged w/ arson and is in custody only on a probation violation at the moment, as multiple agencies have been interviewing him.
NEW: Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents & arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the #KennethFire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva. He is in custody on a probation violation & has NOT been charged…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 13, 2025
Below are videos of the initial takedown:
UPDATE: According to Los Angeles Police, “The suspect was interviewed and the investigation determined there was not enough probable cause to arrest for arson or possible arson. He was arrested on a felony probation violation.”
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) January 10, 2025
Wow this is when civilians noticed the guy accused of setting Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles Woodland Hills area pic.twitter.com/vBcnlAnavB
— Sarah Sansoni (@sarahsansoni) January 10, 2025
UPDATE!
Blowtorch guy is an Illegal Alien named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva from Mexico.
ICE put a detainer on him. https://t.co/IuzfLUXiGf pic.twitter.com/XD9r6wYS3n— JLR© (@JLRINVESTIGATES) January 13, 2025
🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: MAN DETAINED NEAR KENNETH FIRE WITH BLOWTORCH IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
ICE sources have identified Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, as the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents near the Kenneth Fire in West Hills.… https://t.co/zm0VJvCOcn pic.twitter.com/kDYte5xIfN
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 13, 2025
VIDEO: LA residents take matters into their own hands, take down man with ‘blowtorch’
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