‘Something fun’: Man fired over bikini-clad barista photos accused of torching former employer’s store

An Arizona man who was fired from a feed store north of Phoenix for allegedly taking pictures of bikini-clad baristas is accused of setting fire to tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of hay bales on his former employer’s property earlier this year. 

Big picture view:

The suspect, who was identified as Noah Ross, was arrested Wednesday in connection with a June 30 fire at Three Bars Feed & Tack, in the unincorporated community of New River, Arizona, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office explained.

The Sheriff’s Office reported that Ross, 23, admitted to setting the fire after a search warrant was served at his home. He is quoted as telling detectives that he and a friend had been drinking beer and whiskey on the property when they "felt like doing something fun." 

That is when Ross allegedly set fire to the hay bales with a torch lighter as his accomplice is reported to have cut a security camera wire. 

Timeline:

Deputies and the Daisy Mountain Fire Department responded to the massive hay fire around midnight on June 30 and discovered it was spreading toward nearby brush and a shipping container. 

The blaze caused an estimated $60,000 in property damage and prompted a months-long investigation by arson detectives with the sheriff’s office. Investigators quickly identified Ross as a suspect after reviewing security footage showing a tall figure hiding behind a sign near the scene. 

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Detectives tied Ross to the scene through digital evidence, including business Wi-Fi logs showing a phone named "Noah" and a second prepaid device connecting to the network shortly before the fire. Cell phone records corroborated his presence in the area, and Ross later raised suspicion by returning to the burn site wearing a GoPro camera to ask about the investigation.

The backstory:

Feed store owners Rich and Lynn Ineson indicated that Ross was fired about a month before the fire after snapping photos of women working at a Bikini Beans coffee stand while driving a company vehicle and showing them to management. 

What they're saying:

"We’re incredibly grateful to share that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the arson at Three Bars Feed & Tack," store owners Rich and Lynn Ineson said following the arrest. "Our sincere thanks to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Phoenix Arson Investigation Team, Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical and … Arizona Foothills 911 for their hard work, persistence, and support throughout this investigation. We are deeply thankful for everyone who helped our business and community through a very difficult situation."

What's next:

Ross, who is on probation for sexual conduct with a minor, was booked on counts of felony arson, third-degree burglary, and criminal damage. He is being held on $100,000 bond and is due to appear in court on Tuesday. 

Crime and Public SafetyArizona