Man held in blasts at store
Detonation of two explosives sends shoppers scurrying at Ontario Sam’s Club.
A man accused of detonating explosive devices inside a Sam’s Club in Ontario on Thursday has no known links to terrorism and has offered no motive, police said.
Hugo Gonzalez, 49, of Fontana, is suspected of detonating two explosive devices inside the store, triggering a pair of small fires and prompting an evacuation.
No one was injured in the explosions, and Gonzalez was arrested a short time later after a brief pursuit, Ontario Police Sgt. Bill Russell said.
Russell said Gonzalez is not known to be connected with any criminal organizations, nor is he on a terrorist watch list.
Gonzalez never worked for Sam’s Club and provided no explanation for setting off the devices inside the membership warehouse store when interviewed by police, Russell said.
Investigators searched Gonzalez’s car, the store and his apartment Thursday night and did not find any other explosive devices, Russell said, but did recover materials similar to those used to create the devices that ignited in two areas of the store.
Russell declined to comment on the materials used to make the devices, citing concerns about copycat behavior.
Agents with the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.
Gonzalez is being held at the West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $1-million bail on suspicion of arson and ignition of a destructive device, Russell said.