Executive Summary
- Incident Details: Surveillance video captured a suspect attempting to light paper on fire outside The Gym in Victorville on February 3.
- Suspect Apprehension: Elijah Alvarez, 20, was arrested on February 6 during an unrelated shoplifting incident.
- Investigation Status: Police determined Alvarez acted alone and is not linked to prior arson cases at the location.
A 20-year-old Victorville resident has been taken into custody in connection with an attempted arson incident at a local fitness center, following an investigation by the Victorville Police Department. Elijah Alvarez was arrested on Friday after authorities linked him to an unsuccessful attempt to ignite a fire earlier in the week.
Deputies responded to The Gym, located in the 14000 block of Valley Center Drive, at approximately 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. According to a written statement from the Victorville Police Department, surveillance footage obtained from the business captured an adult male attempting to ignite a piece of paper on the northeast exterior of the building. Officials noted that the suspect failed to start a fire and fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement personnel.
Detectives utilized the surveillance evidence to identify Alvarez as the primary suspect. He was subsequently located on Friday, February 6, 2026, during an unrelated incident where he was allegedly attempting to steal merchandise from a local retailer. Following his detention for the alleged theft, Alvarez was transported to the Victorville Police Department station for questioning regarding the arson attempt.
Investigators have determined that Alvarez acted alone in this specific incident. Furthermore, authorities clarified that this case is not connected to previous arson investigations involving the same establishment. Alvarez was booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto on charges of attempted arson under California Penal Code 455(a).
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigative Findings
The apprehension of the suspect highlights the critical role of commercial surveillance systems in corroborating property crimes that might otherwise go unsolved due to a lack of physical damage. By definitively ruling out connections to prior arson investigations at the same location, law enforcement can narrow the scope of this specific case while maintaining separate inquiries for previous incidents. This distinction is vital for prosecutors to establish specific intent for this isolated event without the complexities of a broader pattern of conduct unless further evidence emerges.
