Mesa police arrest man in arson of Walmart that caused $6M in damages

PHOENIX — Mesa police have arrested a man that allegedly started a fire in the garden section of a local Walmart on Thursday, causing at least $6 million in damages.

The incident occurred just before 1 p.m. at the Walmart located on Dobson Road and Rio Salado Parkway in Mesa, according to authorities.

Firefighters upgraded the blaze to a first alarm fire upon arriving on the scene, requiring 40 firefighters from the Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix Fire Departments to extinguish the fire.

An investigation of Walmart surveillance video found that the man gathered cushions and padding in a pile on the floor of the garden section, sprayed lighter fluid on the items and set the merchandise on fire before running away with a Walmart blanket, jacket and other items.

Police found the man, identified as Marcus Manygoats, about 1,000 yards away from the Walmart wearing the same clothes he had on while in the store and in possession of the stolen items.

Manygoats is being held on a $200,000 bond facing charges of arson of an occupied structure (a class two felony), criminal damage of over $10,000 (a class four felony) and endangerment (a class six felony).

Walmart managers told police the amount of smoke and water that went through the store caused damage to products, structure and electrical systems, with damage possibly reaching up to $10 million.

The store was forced to close due to the fire, which will add to the total loss accrued from the incident, according to authorities.

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