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Suspect in California flag-burning spree held on $3.25M bail for arson charges
By Timothy Nerozzi
Published December 10, 2022
Police have identified the suspect accused of going door-to-door lighting residential flags on fire in Long Beach, California.
Law enforcement named John Leo Meylor, 35, as the suspect allegedly captured on video setting American and military flags alight this week.
Meylor, 35, is facing 13 counts of arson, as well as an additional charge of arson to an inhabited structure. He is also being charged for violating his previous parole, according to local outlet ABC 7.
MAN IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, WHO ALLEGEDLY LIT AMERICAN FLAGS ON FIRE UNDER ARREST
Meylor allegedly moved from home to home with a lighter around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, according to FOX 11.
Long Beach police cars. (Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
A series of reports came in later that morning of multiple burned flags along Iroquois Avenue and Hackett Avenue.
LONG BEACH STORE OWNER WHO GAVE MINOR WHISKEY BEFORE FATAL CRASH BANNED FROM SELLING ALCOHOL
Ring doorbell footage from one household appears to capture Meylor struggle to ignite a flag in a resident's driveway.
Video footage shows a man setting an American flag on fire in Long Beach, California. (KTTV)
Meylor was reportedly identified by locals using the footage, which led to his arrest by local police.
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The suspect reportedly targeted American and military flags but left others untouched. Police say over a dozen properties were vandalized.
One burning flag fell on top of a resident's parked BMW, which became engulfed in flames.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/suspect-california-flag-burning-spree-held-3-25m-bail-arson-charges