Man arrested for allegedly giving out face shields to ‘suspected rioters’ at LA protest

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – Federal authorities arrested a antheral successful East Los Angeles connected Thursday who allegedly handed retired look shields during an migration protest. His apprehension sparked a backlash from section residents.

FBI agents took Alejandro Theodoro Orellana into custody for allegedly “distributing look shields to suspected rioters” connected Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted connected X. The station included a photograph of the suspect, on with a broadcast clip from Fox News appearing to amusement a antheral providing masks to protestors from the backmost of a pickup truck.

“We are moving rapidly to place and apprehension those progressive successful organizing and/or supporting civilian upset successful Los Angeles,” Essayli stated successful the post.

A instrumentality enforcement serviceman escorts a pistillate retired of a protestation aft she was detained connected Wednesday, June 11, 2025, successful Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

An LA nonmigratory surviving successful the country of East 6th Street and South Rowan Avenue told Nexstar’s KTLA that helium knew Orellana — not precise good — but was unaware of immoderate transgression enactment connected the suspect’s part.

“No, thing of the sort. Nothing astatine all. No 1 successful this artifact person I heard any, you know, atrocious quality from oregon immoderate gossip,” the nonmigratory said.

At the clip of the interview, the nonmigratory said helium was not alert of wherefore authorities had arrested Orellana. He did say, however, that helium awoke connected Thursday to the dependable of flash bangs and calls from authorities to enactment indoors.

Video shared to Citizen.com showed a tiny assemblage shouting astatine instrumentality enforcement adjacent East 6th Street and South Ditman Avenue astir 6:30 a.m. One idiosyncratic is seen utilizing a bullhorn portion different is heard shouting expletives astatine deputies.

Law enforcement near the country astir 6:45 a.m. aft making the arrest.