Arson Fire Caused $11.3M In Damages To Menifee Target: Authorities

MENIFEE, CA — A convicted felon accused of torching the Menifee Target store on Haun Road last month — allegedly causing $11.3 million in damages — was formally charged with a slew of felonies, including arson.

Abel Arizmendi Jr., 30, remained jailed Monday at Southwest Detention Center with no bail set. He was charged with arson; damage of multiple structures, along with sentencing enhancements; using personal information of another person in order to obtain credit; and petty theft — all felonies.

Additionally, Arizmendi was charged with receiving stolen property and receiving a stolen vehicle, both misdemeanors.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Friday and is due to appear in court Feb. 22 for a felony settlement conference, court records show.

The alleged arson fire at the 30340 Haun Road Target store was reported at approximately 7:30 a.m. Jan. 22. When crews arrived that Sunday morning, they found the blaze burning in the store's men's department, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

From the start, arson was suspected but details on why fire investigators believed the non-injury fire was intentionally set were not provided by the agency.

Arizmendi was arrested in Lake Elsinore on Jan. 31, jail records show. A subsequent search warrant was issued Feb. 8 for his residence where investigators found "additional evidence linking the suspect to the arson fire and to the serious violent crimes that occurred," according to a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department news release.

Riverside County court records show Arizmendi has a criminal history dating back to 2012.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department at 951-943-4970.

The Target store remained closed Monday but was expected to reopen Tuesday.