Arrest made after video of food truck vendor vandalizing Whittier taco stand goes viral

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Sunday, January 30, 2022
Arrest made after food truck caught vandalizing Whittier taco stand
Authorities have made an arrest after a food truck vendor is caught on video using a fire extinguisher to vandalize a taco stand near Whittier.

WHITTIER, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities have made an arrest after a food truck vendor was caught on video vandalizing a taco stand on Mulberry Drive and Mills Avenue near Whittier Thursday night.

Based on the video posted to social media and tips from the community, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says that they were able to identify the suspect in this case, and arrested him at his house.

In the video that has since gone viral, a man is seen intentionally using a fire extinguisher to put out the cooking fire of a taco stand.

"I said this guy was going to punch us because he was close to us," said Armando Martinez, an employee for Tacos la Guera. "Maybe he's going to want to hurt me. So I kept my distance and stayed back."

Martinez says the man first arrived in a truck and threatened them to leave. Thirty minutes later, he arrived again in a food truck and that's when the incident unfolded.

Tacos la Guera owner, Rocio Gascón, says that they had been scouting this area since last week and didn't see any vendors at this spot. That's why they set up at this location. Neighbors say the food truck has set up there in the past.

Gascón said no one was injured in the incident.