Former college football player tackles suspected arsonist in Los Angeles incident.

A former college football player helped apprehend a suspected arsonist while Los Angeles firefighters worked to control a blaze in the hills. Scott Mitchell, a one-time wide receiver at the University of Kentucky, and his girlfriend, Davanh DiMarco, were on a regular seven-mile hike when they discovered a burning tree and noticed a suspicious man walking away from the scene.

Mitchell recalled DiMarco exclaiming, “Oh wait, that tree’s on fire!” She immediately pointed to the man, urging, “He started that fire.

Get him!” Without hesitation, Mitchell felt a rush of adrenaline reminiscent of his college football days.

“Even without digging, I was able to chase that guy down,” he said, surprised by his own capabilities. When confronted, the fleeing man claimed to be a fire marshal conducting a controlled burn, but his unkempt appearance raised skepticism.

Mitchell questioned, “Where’s your badge, fire marshal?” Their doubts were compounded by the absence of any other personnel nearby.

Other hikers joined in, helping to keep the suspect restrained while a call to 911 was made. The man, identified as 43-year-old Andrew Wistic O’Calliham, was arraigned on felony arson charges.

He is currently being held on $75,000 bail, although a lawyer for him has not yet been reached for comment. Meanwhile, approximately 53 firefighters, supported by aerial units, successfully extinguished the flames along Runyon Canyon Road.

Mitchell and DiMarco have been particularly sensitive to fires after experiencing the devastating Eaton Fire earlier this year. Reflecting on the incident, DiMarco expressed gratitude that it concluded safely, saying, “Yeah, we’re grateful that it ended the way it did.”