Ontario Mills arson suspect charged with 16 felonies after allegedly setting fires in four stores, authorities say

The man accused of setting fires inside the Ontario Mills shopping mall last week was charged with 16 felonies on Tuesday.

Luis Javier Gallegos, 28, was arrested on Friday after allegedly lighting fires in four stores, including Nordstrom Rack, True Religion, Marshall's and North Face, resulting in the evacuation and brief closure of the popular Inland Empire mall. The True Religion store remains closed as of Tuesday, while the others have since reopened.

The Ontario Police Department on Friday said Gallegos failed to comply with the arresting officers, resulting in the use of force during the arrest. An officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the encounter.

During a hearing on Tuesday, he was charged on 16 felony allegations. They include:

• 11 counts of arson to another person's property

• 2 counts of criminal threats

• 1 count of arson to a structure

• 1 count of resisting arrest

• 1 count of attempted removal of a firearm during arrest

San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson shared a statement after the charges were announced. 

"I don't care what your political party or political persusasion is, all I care about is your conduct, and how that conduct compares to the rule of law," the statement said, in part. "If your conduct violates criminal law and we can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, we will be filing charges. 

If criminal conduct is how you show concern about the economy, I know a place you can go to get a free bed, free food, free clothes and potentially many friends," the statement continued. "The bottom line is if you play stupid games here in San Bernardino County, you are going to win state prison prizes."

Gallegos was not physically present in the courtroom on Tuesday and did not enter a plea. He's expected to appear in a hearing later this week.