Police arrest three for grand theft, arson in Paso Robles

PASO ROBLES, Calif. -- Paso Robles police arrested three in connection to the Lowe's fire and grand theft on Thursday.

Police arrested Jose Mendoza and Rufino Vargas on Thursday for conspiracy and grand theft. Third suspect, Jose Ramon Gonzalez Dominguez, was arrested on Friday for conspiracy, grand theft and arson.

The incident happened Sunday around 8:15 p.m., Paso Robles Fire Department responded to a small fire at the entrance of Lowe's.

In an investigation, detectives found that a suspect had entered Lowe's shortly after 8 p.m. and staged a rolling pipe threader nearby before covering it with a canvas drop cloth.

Once he set the fire, the alarms and sprinklers activated, the suspect then pushed the pipe threader out of the store. The stolen property was recovered by police.

This is an ongoing investigation. Please contact the Paso Robles Police Department if you have any information about this crime.