Mesa man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at Phoenix jail

PHOENIX — A Mesa man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of throwing at least two Molotov cocktails at the Maricopa County Jail in downtown Phoenix.

“This was an attack on a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office facility, on our detention officers who work there, on police agencies who use our jail and on innocent people who were in the area,” Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said in a release.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said 27-year-old Michael Anthony Arreola threw the first explosive device at the Fourth Avenue Jail — located near Madison Street and Fourth Avenue — about 2 a.m. Tuesday before driving away.

Michael Arreola (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Photo)

He returned about 7 p.m. and allegedly threw another device.

The Molotov cocktails were thrown at an area where inmates are released and police agencies bring suspects for booking.

No one was hurt in the attacks, though one pedestrian was nearly hit.

A vehicle allegedly driven by Arreola was traced to an apartment near Main Street and Recker Road. Arreola surrendered without incident.

“MCSO and our law enforcement partners developed a very targeted and tight operations plan to get this person off the street,” Penzone said in the release.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office was preparing charges against Arreola. He had spent time in the jail.

Arreola had been previously arrested for assault, burglaries and damaging property in both California and Arizona.