3 PALMDALE MEN ARRESTED IN FIRE, CROSS-BURNING.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Three men were arrested on suspicion of burning a cross and starting a 1-1/2-acre brush fire at a Littlerock Recreation Area campground, sheriff's officials said.

Richard Ritchie, 21; Colan Tonio, 23; and Pride Tatroe, 22, all of Palmdale, were arrested Tuesday after deputies executed a search warrant at 7 a.m. at a home in the 38600 block of 25th Street East in Palmdale.

Ritchie and Tatroe are being held on suspicion of arson in lieu of $75,000 bail. Tonio is being held on a no bail warrant for a prison escape and a $30,000 warrant for receiving stolen property, as well as on suspicion of arson. A fourth suspect is being sought, officials said.

According to sheriff's officials, the cross-burning occurred Aug. 9, when a group of people believed to be white-supremacist skinheads gathered at the Basin Campground at Littlerock Recreation Area.

``They checked in Thursday and had a lot of people coming and going,'' said sheriff's Sgt. Heidi Clark. ``We're not sure exactly how many people were there.''

The next evening, the group took a 6-foot-tall wooden cross to a vacant area on the far side of the campground, stuck it into the ground, poured gasoline on it and set it on fire.

``The whole campground saw it,'' said Clark. ``But this is not considered a hate crime; we looked at all the possibilities.''

The cross-burning is not considered a hate crime because the group made no threats or terrorized anyone, said Clark.

``They made their statement and it's their First Amendment right to do so,'' said Clark.

But the burning cross set afire nearby brush, and the blaze charred 1-1/2 acres before firefighters and U.S. Forest Service officials were able to extinguish it.

After the fire got out of control, the group abandoned the campsite, leaving behind camping equipment and personal belongings, including identification, said Clark.

Deputies went to the 25th Street East home hoping to find Ritchie, because identification left at the campground was in his name. Tonio and Tatroe were arrested at the home, and Ritchie was arrested a few hours later walking near Avenue L and 40th Street West.