INDUSTRY (CNS) - A 41-year-old homeless man was arrested today for allegedly burning an American flag left at a California Highway Patrol memorial in the city of Industry, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
Scott Kennard was arrested at the memorial near the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Turnbull Canyon Road about 10 a.m., Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez said.
The memorial was set up for David Romero, a CHP motorcycle officer who died in 2005 when a suspected drunken driver hit him while he was stopped at a red light, according to the sheriff's department.
Kennard caught the attention of a CHP officer who was at the memorial after he was seen wandering around the shrine, Navarro-Suarez said.
The CHP officer allegedly saw Kennard grab an American flag placed at the memorial and shield it with his hand before flames erupted from the flag as Kennard began walking away, Navarro-Suarez said.
The CHP officer tried to save the flag but it was too badly burned, Navarro-Suarez said.
Kennard was then arrested and taken to the Industry sheriff's station - - where he was charged with alleged felony arson of property.
Kennard was jailed on $50,000 bail. There's no word yet as to why he burned the flag, which has been replaced.
He's scheduled to head to court in West Covina on Tuesday, according to jail records.