Local News in Brief : 5 Teen-Agers Held in Halloween Fire Threat

Five teen-agers were arrested Monday for allegedly dousing a 12-year-old Valencia boy with gasoline, then threatening to set him afire unless he surrendered his Halloween candy, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.

Four of the five, ages 15 to 16, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, said Sgt. Palmieri of the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station. The four, including one girl, were expected to be released to the custody of their parents Monday night, he said.

The fifth youth, a 15 year-old boy, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, spraying caustic chemicals on an individual and conspiracy to commit arson, he said. The youth will be transferred to Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, where his case will be reviewed by the district attorney’s office.

All five were picked up by sheriff’s deputies Monday at William S. Hart High School in Saugus, where they are students, Palmieri said. Information from witnesses and school officials led to the arrests, he said.

Palmieri said the victim had been making trick-or-treat visits to homes in the 25800 block of Tournament Road on Oct. 31 when he was confronted by five teen-agers. The teen-agers, four of whom carried squeeze bottles containing gasoline, demanded that the boy hand over his candy, he said.

When the boy refused, one of the youths squirted his head and upper body with gasoline, struck a match and threatened to ignite him, Palmieri said. The boy fled on foot.