As multiple blazes batter Southern California, nine people have been arrested for looting and related charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Martrell Peoples, 22, and Damari Bell, 21, are accused of stealing from a residence in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday night into Thursday morning and have been charged with looting during an emergency, first-degree residential burglary and grand theft. Bell also faces two charges for possession of a gun as a felon.
The two stole property worth more than $200,000, the district attorney’s office said. Mr. Peoples is accused of doing so while on parole from California state prison, and Mr. Bell is accused of doing the same while on felony probation.
Police tracked Mr. Peoples and Mr. Bell to a residence in Koreatown, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a press conference, and the two were stopped as they tried to leave.
Travon Coleman, 27, also fled the apartment building in a second car. He’s alleged to have hit another car while fleeing police, causing the driver of that car to suffer a concussion, according to Mr. Hochman. Mr. Coleman was then detained on foot. He has been charged with a felony hit-and-run that caused great bodily injury.
Both Mr. Peoples and Mr. Coleman face life in prison under California’s three-strikes law, since both have two prior convictions for violent and serious felonies. Mr. Bell faces 22 years and eight months in prison.
Rudy Salazar, 19, and Lucia Jilrara Perez, 36, are accused of breaking into two homes and stealing property in Altadena, California, amid the Eaton fire at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. They face two charges of first-degree residential burglary. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Naquan Dewey Reddix, 22; Pierie Obannon, 19; Roy Sims, 18; and Ryan Sims, 19, are accused of entering into a home in Altadena and stealing property at 5 p.m. Wednesday, also while Eaton went up in smoke. All four face a charge of first-degree residential burglary and have pleaded not guilty.
Of the four, Mr. Reddix and Mr. Obannon have posted bail; the other two each has $50,000 bail. If the four are found guilty, they face up to six years in state prison, the attorney’s office said.
“These curfews are in place to protect residents and ensure public safety. Anyone who violates them will face serious consequences. Our office is fully committed to getting these criminals off the streets and putting them on alert: We will not tolerate this kind of lawlessness,” Mr. Hochman said.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.