Midvale elementary school faces ‘extensive’ repairs after vandal set utility box on fire, school says
Oct 28, 2024, 9:15 AM | Updated: Oct 29, 2024, 4:13 pm
MIDVALE — Students at a Midvale elementary school were learning remotely on Monday after fire officials said a person intentionally set a large utility box on fire outside of the school.
The Unified Fire Authority said crews responded to Midvalley Elementary School, at 217 E, 7800 South, just after 2:30 a.m. Authorities obtained video footage that showed an older man with a gray beard driving a newer model Hyundai Santa Fe that may have had an out-of-state license plate.
Hours later, on Monday, authorities said they were able to track him down, and he was arrested on arson charges. According to arrest documents, the man was identified as 53-year-old Christopher Frances Mandarino.
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” Canyons School District spokesman Jeff Haney said. “Why would someone want to damage that school?”
Arresting documents stated that Mandarino initially attempted to enter the school but was unsuccessful, so he went to the power box.
“After looking over the power box (Mandarino) walked back to his vehicle where he retrieved an axe and went back to the power box to try and pry it open,” the police affidavit stated.
A suspect’s vehicle is seen from video footage after police say he intentionally set fire to a utility box outside of an elementary school in Midvale. (Unified Fire Authority)
Documents stated that Mandarino was unable to access the power box with the axe, so he went to his car, grabbed a drill, and drilled several holes into the box.
Benjamin Porter, a spokesman for the fire authority, said it wasn’t known why the Mandarino selected an electrical box but that it would have been a difficult fire to start.
“They used accelerants,” Porter said. “They found a gas can on scene.”
In the security footage, Mandarino was seen getting a metal can and leaving “the can on the power box lights the ground around the box and box on fire,” according to the affidavit. Mandarino was seen leaving the school in his car.
A suspect is seen from video footage after police say he intentionally set fire to a utility box outside of an elementary school in Midvale. (Unified Fire Authority)
The school said all students would be in class remotely on Monday while a utility company worked to restore power. The damage was extensive, and the building was without heat. The school further offered resources to students who needed lunch at Union Middle School.
“Why steal from children? Why steam from the local school,” Haney said. “When we have this kind of vandalism, that forces us to move to on-line learning but also totally disrupts the week.”
According to documents, officers found Mandarino driving in his car and made a traffic stop. Police reported that Mandarino was “very confrontational with officers” and actively resisted when officers tried to arrest him.
After placing Mandarino into police custody, officers reported finding a handgun in his front right pocket. According to police, Mandarino is a convicted felon and is restricted from owning a firearm.
According to documents, officers found Mandarino’s pre-teen daughter in the car. She told officers that they were going to visit family, and Mandarino had “packed a suit case for her and had told her they were going to visit family, and she would be in the car for a long time.” Due to hearing this info, officers are asking the court not to grant Mandarino bail.
Mandarino was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of attempted arson resulting in damages over $5,000, attempted possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, and attempted interfering with a peace officer, according to arresting documents.
