MESA, AZ — A 31-year-old man has been arrested after police say he started fires inside a Mesa Target store.
Just before 10 p.m. on June 27, Mesa Police Department officers were called to the store near Southern Avenue and Longmore for reports of a fire.
When officers arrived, the store had already filled with smoke and everyone had evacuated. The Mesa Fire Department arrived and put out the fire.
During an investigation, police learned two separate fires were started inside the store — one in the baby diaper aisle and the other with a piece of clothing on the floor.
Target officials say the damage is reported to cost upwards of $5 million due to toxic smoke making contact with all the merchandise in the store, in addition to fire suppression sprinklers flooding the area.
While looking through surveillance footage from Target, investigators saw a man walking through the store and placing items into a shopping cart. He then picked up a shirt resembling the one that was set on fire. He quickly moved from the area, toward the electronics, as smoke started to fill the store, police said.
In the video, the man watched the fire grow and then attempted to break into a case of cell phones with a hammer, but was unsuccessful.
The man was the last one to evacuate the store and when he did, he reportedly took several items of stolen merchandise with him before leaving in a black sedan, according to Mesa Police Department.
Detectives were able to identify the man through his license plate. While looking into the suspect, police discovered he had been taken into custody by Mesa police for an unrelated incident.
He is facing multiple charges, including arson, endangerment, shoplifting, and criminal damage.
