𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘: LAPD Takes Man Into Custody, LAFD Arson Unit Investigates

VENICE, Calif. — Los Angeles police detained a man at Venice Muscle Beach on Thursday morning, Nov. 12, 2026, after firefighters extinguished a fire beneath the public bleachers. According to information learned at the scene, a beach maintenance worker spotted the fire and called for firefighters. Los Angeles Fire Department crews put out the fire and cordoned off the area with yellow fire-line tape. Charred palm fronds were visible beneath the bleachers. Police officers detained the man near the public punching bags after he was suspected of setting the fire. Officers handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a police vehicle. About 30 minutes later, two investigators from the LAFD’s Arson Counter-Terrorism Section arrived. They spoke with firefighters and a witness and examined the area beneath the bleachers. A handwritten note attached to the chain-link fence beside the burned area referred to a lost bag and included the words “Imma start a fire here.” The author of the note and any connection to the man detained remained unconfirmed. Beach maintenance crews were expected to clear the debris after investigators left. The extent of any damage to the bleachers remained unconfirmed, as did whether the man was formally arrested, cited or released. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document public safety incidents and emergency response along the Venice Beach Boardwalk and across the Westside. #VeniceBeach #MuscleBeach #VeniceBoardwalk #LAFD #LAPD — ⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 This video is protected by copyright and provided for personal viewing only. Any copying, downloading, re-uploading, reproduction, distribution, sampling, or other use, including commercial or editorial use, without prior written authorization from Santa Monica Closeup is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. © 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. — 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations. — 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣 PayPal/Venmo/Credit Card 👉 https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/M6JRDKGEVYR42 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/santamonicacloseup Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/SantaMonicaCloseup Twitter 👉 https://www.twitter.com/smcloseup — 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqrlnKSQlVU42TEn_-PAtWw/join — 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 Email 👉 press@santamonicacloseup.com — 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U