A homeless man constructed an elaborate firepit for his rituals at the base of the Via de las Olas Bluffs.
LAPD Beach Patrol Discovers Fire Pit
The LAPD Beach Patrol that works with the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness made a discovery on March 29. A firepit had been set up at the base of the Via de las Olas bluffs near Temescal Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway.
LAPD Officers Yi and Margin assisted PPTFH volunteers Sharon Kilbride and Bruce Schwartz in clearing the dead wood and the site.
Devin Hilton, who is a known as a “fire bug,” and has set three previous fires (including the one at Tuna Canyon), has an elaborate “ritual” that he uses, which includes fire and making a red paint that he sometimes applies to his face.
LAPD Officers say that they can’t arrest him and go to court until they have an eyewitness who actually sees him start a fire.
The discovery of the pit was fortunate, because of the extreme amount of dry wood that if lighted could start a fire racing up the bluffs.
The firewood and kindling was removed from the area, which is in the Very High Fire Severity Zone.
Weekly Crime Report:
Police responded to a call that a victim had been shot. The corner of PCH and Temescal Canyon Road was taped off.
Officer Omir Perez is the interim Senior Lead Officer for Pacific Palisades and will serve in that capacity for another two weeks.
Ever since the long-time Senior Lead Officer in Pacific Palisades, Michael Moore, retired in January, LAPD West Division Commanding Officer Jonathan Tom has been unable to replace him, thanks to budget constraints. Instead, our area has a recurring SLO “substitute.”
Perez released the following crime report for this area on March 29.
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
March 28, 7 a.m., at Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon. The suspect and victim got into verbal altercation over bathroom use at the 76 gas station at Sunset and PCH. Suspect and victim then left the area in their respective vehicles and came across each other again on the road by Will Rogers Beach at Temescal and PCH. Suspect shot the victim in a car-to-car shooting. Victim was shot once and suffered non-life-threatening injury and was in stable condition at a local hospital. Officer Perez said in response to a CTN question about the shooter that this “is an isolated incident.”
BURGLARY
March 17 to 18, 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., in the 1400 block of Allenford. An unknown suspect gained entry to building by possibly picking lock. Suspect(s) removed property and fled in an unknown direction.
March 28, 1:55 a.m., in the 200 block of Entrada Drive. Unknown suspect entered residence under construction and removed tools. The suspect fled in an unknown direction.
March 28, 3 p.m., in the 700 block of Iliff Street. Suspect forced entry to the residence’s front gate and walked to the rear of the residence. The suspect removed property from inside property. The suspect was taken into custody and an arrest made.
BURGLARY/THEFT FROM VEHICLE
March 7, 2 to 4 p.m., in the 17300 block of Sunset. An unknown suspect entered victim’s vehicle and removed property, then fled in an unknown direction. (The crime was reported on March 17.)
March 25 to 26, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., in the 16500 block of Las Casas Place. Unknown suspect used a tool to enter victim’s vehicle, removed property and fled in an unknown direction.
STOLEN VEHICLES
March 18 to 22, noon to 3 p.m., in the 200 block of Channel Road. No further information.
March 19, 10 to 11:45 a.m., in the 900 block of Embury Street. No further information.
March 22, 2:45 p.m., in the 10300 block of Almayo. No further information.
To report a crime in progress, call 9-1-1. To report any non-emergency crime, call (877) 275-5273. A crime that has occurred may be reported in person at the West L.A. police station, 1663 Butler Ave. (Call 310-444-0702, or some crimes may be reported online.) Palisades residents are urged to report all crimes, so there is a record of it.