One person was taken into custody in connection with a fire inside the Ontario Mills mall on Friday morning after multiple fires were reported, authorities said.
Ontario police arrested 28-year-old Luis Javier Gallegos Jr. of Rancho Cucamonga after several fires were reported inside the outlet mall, according to the Ontario Police Department.
At about 10:30 a.m., Ontario Police and Fire Department personnel responded to reports of multiple fires inside the shopping center. Dispatch calls indicated the fires were intentionally set by a male suspect who was carrying a lighter and a backpack, according to authorities.
Video showed smoke inside a True Religion store and a man being taken into police custody outside the business.
Officers said Gallegos did not comply with commands, and a use-of-force incident occurred as they attempted to arrest him.
The mall was evacuated and closed while firefighters extinguished the flames and ensured there were no further threats. Because of reports that the suspect had a backpack, explosive detection K-9 units were brought in as a precaution. After a thorough investigation of the mall, authorities determined the area was safe.
No injuries to members of the public were reported.
One officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and was treated and released from a local medical center, authorities said.
Gallegos was transported to a local hospital for treatment after being taken into custody. He was later released and booked into the West Valley Detention Center on an arson-related felony charge.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident and are working to determine a motive, including whether there is any connection to an April 7 fire at a Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Ontario Police Department at (909) 986-6711 or Detective Ryan Holmes at (909) 408-1045.