Man charged with arson after setting fires inside Ontario Mills mall

Luis Javier Gallegos Jr., 28, was arrested for intentionally setting fires inside stores at Ontario Mills mall. Police responded to reports of a man with a lighter. Gallegos did not comply with police requests, resulting in a forceful arrest where both he and an officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries. After treatment, he was booked and charged with felony arson. Authorities are investigating a possible connection to a previous arson incident at a warehouse in Ontario that caused significant damage.

"Ontario police responded to the mall at about 10:30 a.m. after callers reported that a man with a lighter and a backpack was intentionally setting fires."

"Both Gallegos and an officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the arrest, the police said."

"Prosecutors say the inferno destroyed the 1.2 million square-foot warehouse and the paper products inside, resulting in $500 million in damages."

"Chamel Abdulkarim, a Highland resident who worked at the warehouse, is facing both state and federal arson charges for setting the fire."

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