A 53-year-old Florida man is in custody after allegedly setting fire to a Tampa restaurant with a flaming propane tank and confronting deputies with knives. The incident occurred Tuesday morning when Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of an assault in progress.
Upon arrival, deputies found the restaurant filled with smoke and flames. They encountered Rubiel Maceo Castillo inside the establishment, armed with two knives. Body camera footage captured deputies repeatedly ordering Castillo to drop the weapons.
According to court documents, Castillo allegedly charged at several individuals inside the restaurant, cutting a woman on the wrist. Investigators stated that he then cut a gas line connected to a grill, ignited a propane tank, and carried the flaming tank through the business as flames spread.
Deputies, working with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, extinguished the blaze before taking Castillo into custody. He was booked into jail and is being held without bond.
Castillo faces charges including first-degree arson of an occupied structure, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal mischief causing more than $1,000 in damage. While a motive has not been officially released, investigators reportedly believe the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute.
