Former Kentucky wide receiver Scott Mitchell found himself in a crucial situation as he assisted in the capture of a suspected arsonist in Los Angeles. During a hike, Mitchell and his girlfriend noticed a tree on fire and a suspicious man leaving the area. Mitchell swiftly covered approximately 150 yards to chase down Andrew Wistic O’Calliham, who was later arrested on charges of arson. O’Calliham is currently detained with a bail set at $75,000.

“Even without digging, I was able to chase that guy down,” Mitchell recounted. “I didn’t know I still had it, I’m not going to lie.”
Translation: Mitchell expressed surprise at his own speed and ability to catch the suspect during the encounter.

O’Calliham claimed to be a fire marshal conducting a controlled burn, but when pressed by Mitchell for identification, his lack of evidence raised doubts. Other hikers joined Mitchell and his girlfriend in preventing O’Calliham from fleeing while they alerted authorities. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that firefighting efforts involved aerial response and over 50 firefighters to extinguish the fire in the Hollywood Hills.

Mitchell’s college football career spanned from 2001 to 2005 across three universities, culminating in a two-season stint with Kentucky. In his time there, he amassed 53 receptions, totaling 671 yards and three touchdowns over 20 games. Undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft, he had a brief career in both the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League.