CEDAR CITY, Utah, June 15, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A man has been arrested after he allegedly admitted he started an arson fire in an apartment building that housed approximately 60 tenants.
Christian Max Gonzalez-Diaz, 34, was arrested Sunday for investigation of aggravated arson, a first-degree felony.
Firefighters responded to structure fire call at 18 S. Main St., says an arrest document filed by an officer of the Cedar City Police Department.
“After fire personnel had extinguished the fire they found what appeared to be suspicious circumstances around the fire origination site. They found what appeared to be a pile of clothes in a laundry hamper that had burnt up, they found an empty bottle of isopropyl alcohol next on the other side of the bed that was empty and squished consistent with someone having sprayed it out.
“Officer called the State Fire Investigator and he asked for a picture to be sent to them. He told the local Fire Marshall that the picture indicates an accelerant was used based off of the fire pattern on the bed and clothes.”
From paperwork in a desk, the apartment tenant of the apartment was found to be Gonzalez-Diaz.
“Christian initially stated that he hadn’t been to his apartment in two days but he didn’t react when I told him that his apartment had been on fire. There was no surprise to him or concern for his belongings. Later at the office Christian was still denying having involvement then switched and said ‘OK, I’ll admit to it, I burned it down.’ He then went into detail about taking the alcohol and spray on his laundry hamper and proceeded to light it on fire.”
“Christian was transported to the jail where he told officers that he was jumping over peoples fences after he lit the apartment on fire and he stated he has been using methamphetamine the last couple of days. He was booked in without incident.”
Gonzalez-Diaz is being held without bail.
