Neighbors on one Long Beach street are upset after someone burned American flags in the area. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News on Dec. 8. 2022.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect an arrest in the case.
After more than a dozen flags hanging outside homes in an East Long Beach neighborhood were set on fire by an arsonist seen on security camera video, a man was arrested in connection with the crimes.
Long Beach officials said 35-year-old Laguna Niguel resident John Leo Meylor was arrested on suspicion of 13 counts of arson, one count of arson to an inhabited structure, and violation of parole.
He was taken into custody Thursday afternoon in the 2900 block of Studebaker Road. He is being held on no bail.
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In video captured at 3 a.m. Thursday in front of a home, a man can be seen holding what appears to be a lighter to a U.S. flag. Residents said it was one of 15 flags torched in the neighborhood.
In one case, a BMW caught on fire when a burning flag landed on its roof.
"My best friend from across the street called and woke me up because her dog woke her up," said Tracy Greenberg. "They were burning her flag as well. Came outside, flag on fire. Car was on fire, too."
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Alexis Lenon woke up at about 3:30 a.m. to an alert golden retriever's barks.
"It was terrifying," said Alexis Lenon. "Somebody on your property burning a flag? It's pretty scary. We have a baby in the house. That was our first thought."
Several of the scattered arson fires were caught on camera at other residences. One neighbor said police searched his backyard for the man.
Neighbors told NBCLA that someone replaced all the flags that were burned. Details about who replaced the flags were not immediately available.
