Grown Ups star David Spade has taken to social media to offer a cash reward to anyone who helps ‘cops to bust’ anyone trying to start a fire in LA ‘and throw them in jail’.
On January 9, authorities confirmed a man had been detained and was suspected by locals of trying to light a fire in Los Angeles amid the ongoing devastation being caused by wildfires.
The suspect was spotted by locals in the Ybarra Road area of the Woodland Hills area allegedly trying to start a fire, the residents immediately calling police.
The man was spotted by locals on a bicycle, riding around with a blow torch in his hand, Fox 11 Los Angeles reports.
He was allegedly seen attempting to set fire to garbage cans and old Christmas trees lying out on the street using the appliance.
A Los Angeles Police Department official previously said it was believed the man tried to start a fire intentionally. However, on January 10, LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi updated during a press conference there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the man with arson, and so he was arrested on felony probation violation.
He said: “After the interview and additional investigative steps, looking at some additional evidence that was present, they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson.
“The investigation is ongoing. I would like to thank those community members that were involved […] in bringing this person to our attention.”
Comedian and actor David Spade has since appealed to residents in Los Angeles, offering a reward for anyone who spots anyone else trying to ‘light fires out there’.
In a post shared to his Instagram story he said: “There’s guys lighting fires out there, make this s**t worse. They just caught somebody who we’re pretty sure was lighting fires, walking around with a blow torch, they let him go.
“So if you can find someone lighting a fire and you can catch somebody and you can get the cops to bust them and throw them in jail, I’ll give you 5,000 bucks.
“So keep your eyes peeled, do you what you can out there. Don’t fake it though, no staging. Let me know.”
And it’s not taken long for people to weigh in on the offer.
One Twitter user said: “That’s awesome.”
“True patriot,” another added.
A third commented: “Good man.”
And a fourth resolved: “Did not have arson bounty hunter vigilante David Spade on my bingo card.”
UNILAD has contacted LAPD for comment.
You can support those affected by the fires by donating to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999.
