Suspect Arrested in Sake House Fire During Santa Monica Protests

July 1, 2020 -- A West Hills man was arrested on federal charges alleging he set fire to a sushi restaurant in Downtown Santa Monica during violent protests and looting in the beach city May 31.

Micah Tillmon, 19, was arrested without incident by local and federal authorities Wednesday morning after security video from Sake House by Hikari, at 4th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard, allegedly tied him to the arson fire.

The video shows Tillmon removing “a red tube-shaped object from his jacket, which he placed behind the reception desk area of the restaurant before walking away," according to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint.

"Within seconds of that action, smoke and fire appeared from the area," read the affidavit filed in federal court.

Santa Monica Fire Department investigators determined the red object caused the fire that destroyed the interior of the small brick restaurant.

Special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Santa Monica Police Department. officers arrested Tillmon pursuant to a criminal complaint filed on June 25.

The complaint charges Tillmon with one count of arson, a felony offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years, said Thom Mrozek, the spokesman for the U.S. Attorney Central District.

Tillmon was identified by SMPD detectives after they reviewed numerous security videos and social media posts.

SMPD and ATF sent screen shots of three suspects and offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to their capture....(Read more)

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