Storm Lake, IA (KICD) — A Storm Lake man is facing two counts of arson.
The Storm Lake Police Department says they were dispatched to the Vista 3 Theater located at 712 Lake Avenue on November 30th in reference to an arson. Upon arrival, police met with staff who reported that in between a movie showing in one of their theaters, a person allegedly attempted to light the movie screen and a theater seat on fire. There was no one present in the theater where the damage took place at the time of the incident, but patrons were present in other theaters inside of the complex. The screen and seat sustained damage estimated at $5,500. The suspect had fled the scene before the damage was detected.
Later, officers were dispatched to the Storm Lake Wal-Mart Store in reference to a person in the movie aisle attempting to start paper towel rolls on fire.
Upon arrival, police located the suspect and took him into custody, identifying him as 21-year-old Alejandro Vargas Lopez. Vargas Lopez allegedly spit in a police officer’s face, at which time he was subdued and secured in a vehicle.
Police observed that Vargas Lopez had constructed a makeshift molotov cocktail using a bottle of alcohol and a piece of children’s clothing from the store and ignited it in the movie section aisle of the store. In addition, he had reportedly opened a roll of paper towels and placed them on shelves in the movie aisle while attempting to light them on fire with a lighter.
Wal-Mart staff were able to intervene and extinguish the fire before the arrival of police. Damage to the store is estimated at $30. Vargas Lopez also allegedly had $25 worth of merchandise in his possession that was concealed from the store.
Police allege that Vargas felt that movies were “ruining the world.”
Following an investigation, police connected Vargas Lopez to the arson incident at the Vista 3 Theater. Police charged Vargas Lopez with two counts of arson 1st degree, criminal mischief 2nd degree, assault on a police officer, two counts of theft 5th degree, and criminal mischief 5th degree. He was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a $56,900 cash bond.
During the investigation, police also allege they determined that the diesel fuel additive used at the Vista 3 Theater incident was stolen from the Ace Hardware Store in Storm Lake by Vargas earlier in the night.
The investigation is ongoing.
