19-Year-Old Valley Man Arrested For Arson in Santa Monica Riot, Could Face 5-20 Years In Prison
Written by 991KBU on July 2, 2020
Federal agents have made an arrest for arson in Santa Monica.
A 19-year-old man form the San fernando Valley is assued of using what sounds like a highway flare to set the Sake House.
Micah Tillmon, 19, of West Hills was arrested by the U-S Department of Justice.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives charges Tillmon with one count of arson.
That’s a felony … with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.
President Trump has ordered federal prosecutors to seek the maximum penalty for rioters who committed dangerous acts during the riots and the concurrent peaceful protests.
The fire “occurred during a civil disturbance within the city” said the U S governent press release … which linked the looting to the peaceful and law-abiding protests …. four blocks away.
“So once SMFD firefighters extinguished the fire, they quickly left the scene due to unsafe conditions.
“SMFD responded several times throughout the evening and night to extinguish flare-ups.
“The interior of the restaurant sustained substantial fire damage, to include a hole burned through the ceiling,” said Gabriel Denton, a Special Agent … the the Justice Department news statement.
Security cameras recorded two men and one woman inside the Sake House.
That restaurant … at Santa Monica Boulevard at Fourth Street … was one of ten Santa Monica businesses that sustained fire or smoke damage during the looting spree that swept through Downtown Santa Monica virtually unchecked on May 31at.
76 had “visible evidence of looting.”
225 Santa Monica businesses had general damage, such as visible broken windows and doors.
The genius who lit the fire … allegedly .. was wearing a patch from the security company where he had used to work.
He also parked his Ford Explorer in front of both the Sake restaurant … and a nearby store … as he allegedly looted it.
The federal charge is just for the arson… although additional state charges for lotting are possible.
The arson and lotting was one of dozens of crimes in downtown Santa Monica that were not impeded … while Santa Monica police were busy occupying themselves with containing several hundred peaceful civil rights protestors … who were penned in for hour near the Santa Monica Pier.
Los Angeles County sheriff Alex Villanueva was at the Santa Monica police command post that afternoon … while that strategy was being employed.
