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Former Kentucky WR Scott Mitchell helps catch suspected arsonist in Runyon Canyon

Danby: Daniel Hager07/15/25DanielHagerOn3
Former-Kentucky-WR-Scott-Mitchell-helps-catch-suspected-arsonist-in-Runyon-Canyon
© Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Former University of Kentucky wide receiver Scott Mitchell helped catch a suspected arsonist in Runyon Canyon (Los Angeles) on Monday.

Fashion designer Davanh Dimarco and Mitchell were hiking in Runyon Canyon when they spotted a man lighting a fire. Mitchell sprung to action and helped apprehend the suspect until park rangers were able to take him into custody.

“The guy was probably around 150 yards away,” Mitchell said. “I had to track him down and run him down. So fortunately I’ve got a football background, playing football at Kentucky and then the CFL so not too bad for a 42-year-old guy.”

Mitchell and other bystanders surrounded the suspected arsonist, refusing to allow him to leave. This allowed the fire to be taken care of, quickly stopping the situation from becoming something far worse.

“The first thing is that you don’t want [the fire] to spread,” Mitchell said. “The flames were so big. It’s horror that you feel at first and the next thing for me was instinctually ‘let’s stop this guy.”

The arsonist no doubt brought back memories of the January fires in Los Angeles, which killed at least 30 people, forced 200,000 to evacuate and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and buildings. 14 different fires broke out to combine into a natural disaster that lasted 24 days before it was finally handled.

“We feel the magnitude more now because we understand what it could’ve been,” the former ‘Cat said. “We’re thankful that we had the capability.”

Mitchell played two seasons at Kentucky under Rich Brooks

Mitchell played at Kentucky from 2004-05 under head coach Rich Brooks after transferring from New Mexico and Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. Over the span of those two seasons, the Harbor City, CA native hauled in 671 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The ‘Cats unfortunately went just 5-17 over those two seasons with Shane Boyd and a young Andre Woodson at quarterback.

Following his playing days in Lexington, Mitchell played three seasons in the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League with the New Orleans VooDoo (AFL), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) and the Winnipeg Bombers (CFL).

In one season with the VooDoo, Mitchell recorded 17 catches for 184 total yards receiving and 1 touchdown. His season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was even better, as he compiled 35 catches for 682 yards receiving and 2 touchdown receptions in 16 games.

Although he was known for his skills on the football field, he’ll now be known as a hero in his community.