A Buckeye man, Rodney Wayne Cox Jr. is in custody after allegedly setting fires in Peoria Walmart and Glendale Walmart stores.
According to the Peoria Police Department, on March 17, at approximately 2:20 p.m., officers and Peoria Fire-Medical personnel responded to a fire at the Walmart located at 21655 N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy. Upon arrival, the building was evacuated and the fire was located in the pet department. The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported.
Officers on scene began an investigation and were advised that a similar incident had occurred at a Walmart in Glendale the day prior.
Officers were checking the area when they made contact with Cox, who had accidentally locked himself out of his vehicle. While the officers were speaking with Cox, an employee alerted the officers that he appeared to match photos from the previous incident at the Glendale Walmart. After reviewing video and comparing photos from the Glendale incident, Cox was arrested.
Investigators believe that the 34-year old Cox arrived at the Walmart, spent a few hours in the store, started a fire in the pets department and then stole several items from the store as he left the store. When this incident occurred, there were approximately 150 employees and 351 customers, including Cox, in the store.
Cox was interviewed by detectives from both Peoria and Glendale Police and he admitted to starting the fires in order to cause a distraction for the shoplifting. Estimates of damages caused to the Walmart stores are over several million dollars.
Cox was booked on several charges including Arson of an Occupied Structure, Endangerment and Shoplifting.