County Supervisors Honor Deputy Who Arrested Arson Suspect
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A Los Angeles County Sheriff's reserve deputy is being honored for arresting the man suspected of starting dozens of fires over the holidays.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday honored deputy Shervin Lalezary, who arrested 24-year-old Harry Burkhart last week.
Lalezary was on his normal patrol in the area of Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue on Jan. 2 when he spotted Burkhart.
"Thank you to the two officers who backed me up," Lalezary said at a news conference last week. "As soon as I put on my lights and initiated a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle, I had an LAPD vehicle behind me ready to go."
Lalezary's sharp eye and quick response led to Burkhart's capture, as well as the end of a string of arson attacks.
Burkhart is charged with 37 counts of arson in connection with more than 50 fires set across Los Angeles and Hollywood.
Authorities in Canada are investigating whether he is responsible for a series of arson fires there.
