'It's my neighborhood': California man wrestles transgender burglary suspect to the ground at popular beach city

A California man says he's not a hero but was simply protecting his neighborhood after video showed him wrestling a burglar to the ground to wait for police to arrive.

Paul Markham, a resident of Venice, told KABC-TV that the burglary suspect actually jumped into his arms while trying to leave the Dudley Market seafood restaurant a second time during the burglary.

"Jumped back out the window, like, right into my arms," he said, "So, a little wrestling match ended over there. I locked them up, sat on top of them for like 20, 25 minutes."

Video obtained by KABC showed the suspect walking away from the business with what appears to be a cash register under the suspect's arm.

Markham says the suspect returned to the business and was trying to steal money from their tip jar. When the suspect tried to leave through the window, the suspect ended up in Markham's arms.

He held the suspect down until police arrived and the owner of the business came out to help him as well. Video of the altercation recorded the suspect begging to be let go.

Police said the burglary suspect identified as a transgender person.

The burglary was one of seven incidents that the Los Angeles Police Department said occurred on the same night around the same area. They were able to arrest two other suspects in those burglaries and are actively investigating whether they are connected.

Markham told KABC that he was not a hero and not a good Samaritan but that he was simply defending his neighborhood.

"It's my neighborhood, man. That's it. There's no Good Samaritan, there's no hero," he added. "I live here. This is my neighborhood."

He said he was left with scratches to his hands and arms from the altercation.

Venice is world-renowned as a popular southern California destination, but residents have reported skyrocketing crime and violence owing to the deepening homeless crisis. Residents of the city made headlines when they complained that local authorities removed homeless encampments only when socialist independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont visited for a campaign stop.

The average cost of a home in Venice is about $1.9 million, down from a high of $2.2 million in 2023, according to Redfin.

Here's the interview with Markham:

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