Laguna Beach police arrest 13-year-old allegedly seen on video igniting firework before brush fire
A 13-year-old boy has been apprehended in relation to a brush fire caused by fireworks in Laguna Beach, which scorched approximately five acres and led to evacuations, authorities reported on Tuesday.
The vegetation fire ignited shortly after 2 p.m. on Monday near Morningside Drive and Rancho Laguna Road, with initial reports suggesting it may have been ignited by illegal fireworks, according to a statement from the Laguna Beach Police Department.
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the scene, where witnesses reported seeing a juvenile in the vicinity who might have been involved in igniting fireworks. Two juveniles were detained but were found to be witnesses rather than suspects.
The city has stated that the cause of the fire remains under investigation, although fireworks are suspected.
Investigators later acquired video evidence that clearly depicted a juvenile suspect igniting a firework and fleeing the scene, as mentioned in the news release.
Detectives and investigators from the Laguna Beach Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority identified the male juvenile responsible and secured search warrants for his arrest and the confiscation of electronic devices, as reported by the police.
The suspect was taken into custody on charges of felony reckless burning of forest land.
“Given the lack of any injuries or immediate danger to structures, Orange County Juvenile Hall declined to accept the suspect for booking,” authorities stated. He was processed at the Police Department and subsequently released into the care of his parents.
The case will be forwarded to the Orange County district attorney’s office for review and potential filing of criminal charges, as indicated in the news release.