(KTLA) – 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. The post included a photo of the suspect, along with a broadcast clip from Fox News appearing to show a man providing masks to protestors 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.
An LA resident living in the area of East 6th Street and South Rowan Avenue told Nexstar’s KTLA that he knew Orellana — not very well — but was unaware of any criminal activity on the suspect’s part.
“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.
At the time of the interview, the resident said he was not aware of why authorities had arrested Orellana. He did say, however, that he awoke on Thursday to the sound of flash bangs and calls from authorities to stay indoors.
Video shared to 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 expletives at deputies.
Law enforcement left the area around 6:45 a.m. after making the arrest.
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