(KGTV) - A man was arrested in connection with the detonation of two explosive devices at a Southern California Sam’s Club store Thursday.
Ontario police said officers and fire personnel responded to a report Thursday afternoon of a fire inside the warehouse store on Milliken Avenue.
Police later determined that someone “detonated a small explosive” in the store, but the blast did not cause injuries or any major damage.
Ontario police said: "Ontario Bomb Squad personnel have determined that the suspect had detonated two similar devices in the store. Each device had ignited small fires to products within close proximity. Sam’s Club employees acted quickly and used fire extinguishers to put out the flames."
In the midst of the investigation, an officer spotted a man leaving the scene in a Honda Civic and tried to pull the car over. However, the Civic sped away and led officers on a brief pursuit before it finally pulled over.
The driver, 49-year-old Fontana resident Hugo Gonzalez, was taken into custody.
“Within the vehicle Gonzalez was driving, investigators located add'l materials similar to those used in the devices found which were found in the store. Police are currently @ an apartment in the 16500 block on Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, which is believed to be associated w/Gonzalez,” police stated on Twitter.
According to Ontario police: “Gonzalez has been interviewed but has not provided police with a motive for the incident. Investigators have no indication that he is linked to any criminal organization and he is not believed to be on a terrorist watch list. He is not a SAM’s Club employee and police have not gotten any information as to why he chose to detonate the devices at this store.”
Ontario police said the FBI, ATF and Fontana Police Department are involved in the investigation.
