ABC15 now has new information on the man who threw Molotov cocktails at the 4th Avenue Jail in Phoenix in two separate incidents on the same day.
Michael Anthony Arreola, 27, was arrested on August 2 at a Mesa apartment near Main Street and Recker Road.
On August 1 at about 2 a.m.Arreola allegedly threw two “Arrowhead” plastic bottles with flammable liquid inside, out of a Mazda van.
"He [Arreola] pulled up in his vehicle and threw what I called a Molotov cocktail at the building," said Sheriff Paul Penzone.
Around 7 p.m. that same day, Arreola allegedly returned to the 4th Avenue Jail and threw a second Molotov cocktail. No injuries were reported during either incident.
Penzone said Arreola’s white minivan was caught on surveillance. Authorities also had a partial license plate. With the description provided, authorities sent surveillance teams to locations matching the vehicle descriptions.
Inside one of the vans, police saw black gloves, Arrowhead bottles, paper and flammable liquid. In one of the videos, the suspect was seen wearing black gloves.
At first, Arreola retreated into his home when seeing police, but later came out and said, “I know what you want to talk to me about. I bombed the jail and ASU earlier.”
In the past, the suspect was arrested for assault, burglaries and damaging property in California, Tempe, and Phoenix.
Arreola allegedly also told police that he does not like law enforcement.
“He [Arreola] was trying to make a statement and after seeing the incident, he did not feel the fire and flames were big enough, so he returned to make sure he made a bigger statement,” according to court documents.
Arreola has been charged with arson of an occupied structure.
