L.A. police make arson arrest

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A man was arrested Wednesday in West Hills on suspicion of arson, Los Angeles police reported today.

A group of residents said they saw a man light a fire and walk away from a hillside near Del Valle Street and Ponce Avenue. The residents followed the man to a restaurant and kept an eye on him until police arrived.

The man was identified by Los Angeles police as Catalino Pineda, 41. He was on probation for making false emergency reports. He was being held on $75,000 bail.

-- Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton