Quick Response By Employees Stops Fire Behind Smithfield Store

SMITHFIELD — A 37-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly setting a fire behind a Smithfield grocery store.

Smithfield Police charged Jubinaldo Martinez Aguilar, of Smithfield, with felony burning personal property and misdemeanor injury to personal property.

Officers responded around 10:11 p.m. on Feb. 10 after employees at Carlie C’s IGA, at 721 N. Brightleaf Boulevard, reported that a suspect had set fire to a bundle of cardboard boxes stacked on a pallet in the rear parking lot.

Employees quickly extinguished the fire. The suspect fled the scene on foot, according to police.

Officers later located Aguilar nearby on Hospital Road and took him into custody.

Damage to the cardboard was estimated at $500.

Aguilar was held under a $15,000 secured bond. No injuries were reported.

A motive for the incident remains under investigation.