Mesa man accused of firebombing the 4th Avenue Jail in Phoenix

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone announced the arrest of a man, in connection with two firebombing incidents involving Molotov Cocktails at the 4th Avenue Jail.

According to a statement released by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Wednesday afternoon Michael Anthony Arreola, 27, surrendered to authorities at his Mesa home, at 5:00 a.m. Wednesday.

The incidents, according to officials, took place on at around 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on August 1. Officials in each of the incidents, surveillance video shows a white minivan slowly approach the building, and then stopping. Afterwards, a burning Molotov Cocktail can be seen thrown from the driver's window and towards the jail, after which the van drives away.

According to officials, no one was injured, but one person narrowly escaped the explosion and fire, during the first incident.

"Attacks such as this will not be tolerated," said Sheriff Paul Penzone, during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

MCSO was able to track down Arreola, according to the statement, using video surveillance and Valley Metro cameras, with help from the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center.

Arreola, according to officials, has previous arrests for assault, burglaries, and damaging property in Phoenix, Tempe, and in California.

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