A western Iowa man has been charged in connection with a fire that erupted at an Altoona Walmart on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 2.
The Altoona Police Department arrested Jack Cedeno, 41, of Schleswig on a first-degree arson charge after officers allege he started several fires inside the Walmart while employees and customers were in the store, according to court documents.
Altoona firefighters were called just after 9 p.m. to the Altoona Walmart, 3501 Eighth St. S.W., on a report of a fire. Crews saw dense smoke and fire in the back of the store, according to a news release from the Altoona Fire Department.
Crews evacuated shoppers and employees and put out the fire. Officials said that because the store’s sprinkler system turned on, the fire was contained to one area. There were no injuries or fatalities, fire officials said.
Altoona police officers arrested Cedeno after he was seen near witnesses around the fire. Cedeno allegedly told police that voices told him to start a fire in the bathroom, according to court documents.
Cedeno was taken to Polk County Jail after midnight Oct. 3, where he is being held without bail.
Ankeny, Bondurant, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, and Urbandale fire departments, as well as the Altoona Police Department, helped the Altoona Fire Department during the incident.
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa man charged with starting fire at Walmart in Altoona
Reporting by Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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