ONTARIO, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A 28-year-old Rancho Cucamonga man was arrested after allegedly setting multiple fires inside Ontario Mills Friday morning, prompting a large emergency response and evacuation of the mall.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., Ontario Police and Ontario Fire personnel responded to reports of multiple fires inside the shopping center. According to a written statement, callers reported a male suspect was intentionally igniting fires while carrying a lighter and a backpack.
Officers quickly located and contacted the suspect, identified as Luis Javier Gallegos Jr. During the encounter, Gallegos failed to comply with officers, resulting in a use-of-force incident as authorities worked to take him into custody.
As the situation unfolded, additional police and fire units evacuated and shut down the mall while firefighters extinguished the fires and checked for any additional fires.
Out of an abundance of caution, explosive detection K-9 teams were requested due to reports the suspect had a backpack. The teams conducted a thorough sweep of the mall’s interior and exterior and ultimately cleared the location as safe.
No injuries to the public were reported. One officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released from a local medical center.
Gallegos was transported to a hospital for evaluation following his arrest. After being released, he was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on an arson-related felony charge.
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to determine a motive and whether the incident is connected to the April 7 Kimberly-Clark warehouse fire in Ontario.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have been injured or who has information about the incident to contact the Ontario Police Department at (909) 986-6711 or Detective Ryan Holmes at (909) 408-1045. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 800-78-CRIME or online at www.wetip.com.
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