Man seen burning American flag at CHP officer memorial arrested

A man was arrested after officials said he was spotted burning an American flag left at a memorial for a California Highway Patrol officer in Industry on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Scott Kennard, a 41-year-old homeless man believed to be living in the area, was arrested at the memorial near the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Turnbull Canyon Road at around 10 a.m.

The memorial is for David Romero, a CHP motorcycle officer who was killed in 2005 when a suspected drunken driver hit him while he was stopped at a red light.

A CHP officer who was near the site of the memorial on Sunday noticed Kennard loitering at the intersection, according to a sheriff’s statement.

The officer said Kennard then approached the flag at the memorial and shielded it with his hand. The flag quickly went up in flames.

Kennard then walked away from the memorial, but was taken into custody by the CHP officer.

The officer tried to save the flag, according to the statement, but it was destroyed. Sheriff’s officials said the flag has been replaced.

Kennard was arrested on suspicion of felony arson of property, sheriff’s officials said.

He was being held on $50,000 bail.

Officials didn’t immediately provide any information on a possible motive for the incident.