Federal authorities arrested a man in East Los Angeles on Thursday who allegedly handed out face shields during an immigration protest. His arrest sparked a backlash from local residents.
FBI agents took Alejandro Theodoro Orellana into custody for allegedly “distributing face shields to suspected rioters” on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X, along with broadcast video of a man handing out gear to protesters from the back of a pickup truck.
“We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles,” Essayli stated in the post.
A resident living in the area of East 6th Street and South Rowan Avenue said he awoke to the sound of flash bangs and calls from authorities to stay indoors.
The resident told KTLA’s Jacqueline Sarkissian that he did not know Orellana very well but was unaware of any criminal activity.
“No, nothing of the sort. Nothing at all. No one in this block have I heard any, you know, bad news from or any gossip,” the resident said.
When he was speaking to KTLA, the resident was not yet aware of why authorities had arrested Orellana.
Video recorded by Citizen.com showed a small crowd shouting at law enforcement near East 6th Street and South Ditman Avenue around 6:30 a.m.
One person is seen using a bullhorn while another is heard shouting explitives at deputies, calling them “F—— Nazis” and telling them to “Get the F— out of here.”
Law enforcement left the area around 6:45 a.m. after making the arrest.
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