Federal arson charges have been filed against a disgruntled employee following a massive fire that destroyed a suburban warehouse for the popular furniture company The RoomPlace.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by NBC 5, Ruben Ochoa Cruz, who had been working as a high lift operator for the company's distribution center for roughly seven months, is accused of setting a blaze that caused an estimated $70 million in damages earlier this month.
Authorities said a training, safety and inventory supervisor for the company told investigators Ochoa had just left a meeting regarding his attendance minutes before the fire started.
"The purpose of this meeting was to discuss Ochoa's attendance record and determine if Ochoa had been present at work on April 11 and April 18, 2016," the complaint states. "During the meeting Ochoa claimed that he was present at work on both of those days. [The supervisor] informed Ochoa that his vacation time would be reduced to account for the days that Ochoa did not report to work. Ochoa became upset during the meeting and a heated argument ensued, during which [the supervisor] told Ochoa that he had enough information to terminate his employment."
After the argument, the supervisor claimed he told Ochoa he would review the facility's video and check with security about the attendance questions before taking action. Ochoa then went to work.
According to the complaint, Ochoa admitted to investigators he lit a packing slip on fire and dropped the piece of paper near his fork lift.
"Ochoa stated: 'I see a little bit of fire and then I throw it,'" the complaint read.
Local
Shortly after, the fire alarm sounded.
Scanner records showed Ochoa was in the area where the fire is believed to have started around the time the blaze sparked.
The rapid flames created a scene so hot investigators couldn't go near the building last week. Nearly 20 hours after the blaze sparked, flames remained persistent in parts of the building.
“Fire fighters from about 35 departments from the surrounding areas responded to help contain the fire,” Fire Chief George Rimbo said. “At one point, we had five aerial streams going to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings.”
All employees were evacuated from the building and no injuries were reported, Rimbo said.
"We are deeply disturbed at the news one of our employees has been charged in connection with the fire that destroyed our main distribution center April 21st," The RoomPlace CEO Paul Adams said in a statement. "We continue to cooperate with federal authorities as they search for more details around a cause and potential motive. In the meantime, we remain focused on rebuilding our warehouse and delivery infrastructure and supporting those employees displaced by the fire.”
When asked why he started the fire, Ochoa told investigators he knew the hours he was being questioned about were actually correct and he "lit the fire in order to get rid of the tension or stress and calm down," the complaint states.
It was not immediately clear if Ochoa had an attorney.