Ontario Police arrested a man suspected of setting fire to seven vehicles at the Folk Inn, located at 204 N. Vineyard Avenue.
This incident took place on Saturday, January 13, 2019 at 1:50 AM when a suspect poured gasoline onto a vehicle in the parking lot and then lit it on fire. The gasoline spread to six other vehicles, engulfing them in flames before the Ontario Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The fire caused the evacuation of several hotel guests at both the Folk Inn and the neighboring hotel, the Azure Hotel. Neither building nor any people were harmed in the blaze. The incident was captured by hotel video surveillance.
Responding officers determined the fire was intended for a female acquaintance of the suspect. Investigators identified Matthew Toyotome, a 27-year-old male from Riverside as the suspect seen in the video. Toyotome is associated with a cosplay group that was attending the anime convention over the weekend. He was arrested at his home later that morning without incident. Toyotome has been booked at the West Valley Detention Center on charges of arson and stalking.
This is an on-going investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Ontario Police Department at 909-986-6711 or Detective Brian Darwin at 909-408-1767.
Information can also be reported anonymously by calling WE-TIP at (800) 78-CRIME or online at www.wetip.com.
