Knife-Wielding Arson Suspect Arrested After Attempting to Set Restaurant on Fire

Imagine sitting down for breakfast and suddenly seeing a man light a gas tank on fire inside. That is the nightmare workers faced in Florida on Tuesday morning.

WHAT HAPPENED

Deputies rushed to a local restaurant around 8:45 AM after getting a call about an assault. They arrived to find the building filled with thick smoke.

Inside, police say 53-year-old Rubiel Maceo Castillo had lit a propane tank on fire. He used the tank to spread flames throughout the restaurant.

When officers ordered him to stop, Castillo walked toward them holding two knives. Deputies yelled at him to drop the weapons before they finally detained him. Fire crews arrived quickly to put out the flames.

FACT BOX

• Location: Hillsborough County, Florida
• Time of call: 8:45 AM
• Suspect: Rubiel Maceo Castillo, age 53
• Weapons: One burning propane tank and two knives
• Main charge: First-degree arson of an occupied building

WHY IT MATTERS

Local restaurants are supposed to be safe places for families to eat and work. A sudden attack like this threatens the safety of everyone in the community.

Fast action by deputies and fire crews kept the damage from getting much worse. It saved lives and kept the fire from spreading to nearby businesses.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Castillo is now in jail and faces multiple criminal charges. The most serious charge is first-degree arson of a building with people inside.

Inspectors must check the restaurant to see when it can safely open again. The owners must clean up the heavy smoke and fire damage.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

1. Why did the man target this specific restaurant?
2. Were there any customers inside when the fire started?
3. How much will it cost to repair the damage to the building?

SOURCE NOTE

Reporting by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. All charges are allegations — Rubiel Maceo Castillo is presumed innocent until proven guilty.