Deputy honored by ADL for capturing mosque arson suspect

A Coachella Valley sheriff’s deputy was honored by the Anti-Defamation League Tuesday for her work in helping capture the man who firebombed a Coachella mosque in 2015. KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 were in Los Angeles for the ceremony.

Deputy Sheriff Yadira Perez was honored with the Helene and Joseph Sherwood Prize for Combating Hate during the ADL’s event in Los Angeles, which honored several members of law enforcement.

Perez was recognized for her contribution toward the apprehension of Carl James Dial, who was sentenced to six years in state prison for tossing a Molotov cocktail through the window of the Islamic Center of the Coachella Valley. Dial pleaded guilty to arson, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of using an explosive device and committing a hate crime.

“It was my job to serve and protect and that is exactly what I did,” Deputy Perez said at Tuesday’s ceremony. Whether is was a hate crime or whether it was a crime against person to person, I think it was my job to do that.”

Watch Video: Muslims gather in prayer outside after mosque set on fire in Coachella

While off-duty on Dec. 11, 2015, Perez saw Dial running from the scene of the flaming mosque and was able to provide an accurate suspect description that led to his arrest.

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According to an ADL statement, “Even while off-duty, Deputy Perez exhibited her steadfast commitment to keep our community safe.” The mosque’s Imam Reymundo Nour spoke on Perez’s contribution toward the resolution of the case.

Coachella mosque moves forward after fire bombing

Numerous other federal and local law enforcement agencies will also be honored for their work in apprehending members of the white supremacist gang San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, as well as Nader Salem Elhuzayel and Muhanad Elfatih M.A. Badawi, two Orange County men who were sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to aid ISIS.