A fire broke out at a South Gate Wal-Mart, leading to an urgent response from local law enforcement and fire departments. According to the City of South Gate Police Department's Facebook post, at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, officers assisted the LA County Fire personnel in evacuating staff and shoppers as they tackled the blaze inside the store located at 4621 Firestone Blvd.
The incident quickly turned into an arson investigation when LA County Fire Arson Investigators, reviewing surveillance footage, identified the individual setting the fire. The suspect was noted as someone previously implicated in a similar offense within the city, known to frequent the area. The investigators' familiarity with the individual's profile led to a heightened vigilance among patrolling officers in the vicinity.
At approximately 10:22 p.m., a South Gate Police Department officer, while patrolling the intersection of Branyon Ave and Kendall Ave, spotted the suspect. This sighting resulted in the suspect, whose name has not been released, engaging in a brief foot chase before being apprehended without further incident. The concluded pursuit and subsequent arrest were detailed by the police department, which celebrated the great teamwork by the LA County Fire and SGPD Officers.
Following the arrest, the suspect was charged with multiple arson-related offenses and is currently being held at the SGPD jail.
