Federal law enforcement arrested a man Thursday in East Los Angeles who allegedly distributed so-called “bionic shield” face masks during an immigration protest.
Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, 29, was taken into custody Thursday morning for allegedly “distributing face shields to suspected rioters” on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X. He also posted video of a man handing out gear to protesters from the back of a pickup.
According to KTLA, the arrest sparked a backlash from local residents, who said they were awakened near East Sixth Street and South Ditman Avenue around 6:30 a.m. Thursday by the sound of flash bangs and calls from authorities to stay indoors.
“We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles,” Essayli stated in the post.
Essayli said Orellana was charged with two felonies: conspiracy to commit civil disorders, and aiding and abetting civil disorders. If convicted, he would face up to five years in federal prison for each charge, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Orellana is expected to make his initial court appearance Friday in downtown Los Angeles where no plea will be taken.
Video posted on X show members of the National Guard assisting the FBI in the arrest.