Tag Archives: arson

Ontario California Police Release a Statement on Anime LA Arson Arrest and Suspect Matthew Toyotome

Arson suspect Matthew Toyotome

Early today we brought you the news about the arson that occurred in a parking lot at a hotel being used by Anime LA attendees. We then updated it with the news that the suspected arsonist was an attendee who was stalking another cosplayer.

The Ontario California Police have released a statement and photo of the suspect, Matthew Toyotome, who has been arrested.

The police are still looking for more information and witnesses. If you have any, the contact information is below in their statement.

The release is below:

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.

Anime LA Arson Started by Stalker of a Cosplayer. Suspect Arrested.

We reported earlier about the arson that torched cars parked at a hotel near Anime Los Angeles, a hotel numerous attendees were staying. At the time we couldn’t say whether it was an attendee that set the fire, which was caught on video. But, we can now confirm that the targeted victim was an attendee and suspected arsonist an “obsessive stalker.”

The initial victim and target of the arson was cosplayer Julia Moreno Jenkins whose car was totaled. She has set up a GoFundMe to help replace the car.

The arson was caused by a stalker of Jenkins who has been arrested by Ontario Police. Matt Masumi Toyotome, 27, of Riverside is the suspect and was arrested without incident at his home Sunday. Ontario Police Lt. David McBride said Toyotomoe was “acquainted” with the victim.

In Jenkins’ own words:

While I was attending Anime Los Angeles, my car was targeted and set on fire by an obsessed stalker who specifically set my car on fire. I only had liability insurance, so my insurance will not cover me and I got it for $27,000. It was a really good working 2015 Subaru Outback. I appreciate everyone who has helped be here for me during this ordeal, and thank you all for encouraging me to go through with starting a go fund me. I can’t say thank you enough for the cosplay community being so supportive and helpful to me in just every way. Thank you everyone, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

We hope you’ll be part of the community to help support Julia and contribute to her GoFundMe.

Cars Go Up in Flames in Hotel Next to Anime LA (Updated)

At least seven, some witnesses say eight, cars were damaged from arson in a parking lot of Azure Hotel & Suites in Ontario, California Sunday Morning.

The hotel was hopping due to Anime Los Angeles which took place this weekend at the Ontario Convention Center.

It’s unknown if the arsonist was an attendee of the convention but witnesses say around 2am a blaze was reported and the hotel was evacuated as a precaution.

Surveillance video shows a man walking up to the main vehicle, pour two cans of gasoline on it and flicking a match. The match didn’t star the fire to the individual lit it with a lighter. That fire then spread to other cars.

The convention center where the convention took place is next to the hotel.

Video: mistersmallbutt

Update: A suspect has been identified and arrested.

Comics to Blame for Arson?


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JokerComic books were once accused of corruption of the young and I’m sure the outrage will kick up again after this.  An Irish man was recently caught red-handed trying to burn down his high school.  When police arrived Christopher Clancy of Clondalkin, Ireland was dressed as the Joker, pouring gasoline around his high school, and lighting it on fire.

Police described him as dressed “in a purple suit, with green hair, a white face and red painted lips,” just like a certain Batman villain.  The policy were instructed by Clancy to turn the corner and see what he’d done.  Clancy was upset because he believed the school was “run by hypocrites” and says he “didn’t like the way they treated my friends.”

The arson caused more than $1 million in damages.