Sarasota Man Arrested After Allegedly Starting Fire Inside Abandoned DeSoto Square Mall
A 22-year-old Sarasota man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he broke into the abandoned DeSoto Square Mall and started a fire by placing a stolen electronic device inside a microwave.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Seth Charles Marose was arrested on charges of first-degree arson, armed burglary of a conveyance, possession of burglary tools and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Deputies responded to the permanently closed DeSoto Square Mall at 303 301 Blvd. W. on July 13 after a property manager reported seeing three masked individuals inside the building through surveillance cameras. When deputies entered the mall, they immediately detected a strong smell of smoke throughout the hallways.
Investigators said Marose traveled to the mall with two other individuals, including a 14-year-old. Authorities allege Marose used a socket set and bolt cutters to remove six screws from a barricaded loading dock door on the south side of the building, allowing the group to gain entry.
According to the arrest report, the group eventually entered the mall’s security room, where they allegedly stole an unidentified electronic device and placed it inside a microwave. The device reportedly caused a fiery explosion that prompted a response from three fire trucks to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and did not reignite.
Detectives said Marose initially denied involvement but later admitted to breaking into the mall, using tools to gain access and placing the electronic device in the microwave.
Investigators also reported that the 14-year-old told detectives that Marose handed him a handgun before the group entered the building.
During the investigation, deputies recovered a socket wrench, bolt cutters, a headlamp and four screws matching those removed from the loading dock door from Marose’s pockets, according to the arrest report.
DeSoto Square Mall, once the largest shopping center in Manatee County, permanently closed in 2021 after years of declining occupancy.
Jail records show Marose was released from the Manatee County Jail on July 17 after posting a $28,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 28 before Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio.