24 Hour Fitness employee breaks in, sets fire at Santa Cruz location

A 24 Hour Fitness employee was arrested for breaking into his work and allegedly setting a room on fire.

According to Santa Cruz police, 24-year-old Christian Cruz set fire to an exercise mat in the group exercise room on the first floor.

The incident happened at the 24 Hour Fitness on Soquel Avenue around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Cruz reportedly threw a fire extinguisher through a window when another employee rushed in to put the fire out.

“The suspect then barricaded himself further inside the room which quickly filled up with smoke,” said SCPD spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke.

Police said Cruz attempted to run out of a side room but officers were able to catch him before he got away. He was placed under arrest and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail for arson, vandalism, and resisting arrest.