The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles said a key arrest was made as authorities try to figure out who is funding and supporting the unrest that began on June 6.
The FBI has arrested a man accused of “Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders … for distributing face shields to suspected rioters,” according to Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
On Thursday morning, agents from the FBI’s Los Angeles office arrested Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, who was allegedly seen handing out the shields on June 10, Essayli announced on social media.
“We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles,” he wrote.
Essayli’s post included a link to live footage from Fox 11 Los Angeles, which zoomed in on a box of equipment branded as a “Bionic Shield” being handed out. Those face shields are available for sale on Amazon.com at prices ranging from about $30 to $55, offering features such as “provides built-in chin protection and extended top-of-head coverage; protects against falling or flying objects, impacts, chemical splashes and airborne debris.”
Alongside the video, Essayli posted a photo of the suspect seated in a vehicle. Orellana was dressed in camouflage-patterned pants and a dark shirt, with his hands appearing to be restrained behind his back.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino responded to Orellana’s arrest by writing on social media: “He chose poorly. Choose wisely.”
The post gave no further details. However, Essayli told Fox 11 that Orellana’s capture was a “key arrest” in the federal investigation of the riots that began on June 6 following a multi-agency investigation that led to 44 arrests of illegal aliens, many of whom had prior criminal records.
“We have made it a huge priority to identify, locate and arrest those who are involved in organizing, supporting, funding or facilitating these riots,” Essayli said.
The disturbances seem to be “well-orchestrated” and “well-funded,” he said, “so we want to understand who these people are, and where this organization is coming from.”
The protests have spread to additional U.S. cities, resulting in dozens more arrests as demonstrators assaulted police.
By Janice Hisle
