Upset customer charged in Wal-Mart arson

Bradenton, Florida -- Angered when refused a refund, a customer set fire to three racks of clothes at the Wal-Mart store at 2911 53rd Ave East and was arrested at another store hours later, the sheriff's office said.

Phillip R. Wright, 41, of Monroe, Louisiana, was charged with Arson. Other charges are pending.

The sheriff's office said Wright tried to return items to the store and was refused a refund. He went to the men's department, set three clothes racks on fire, ran out of the store and escaped in a tan pickup truck.

As customers evacuated the store, employees used hand-held fire extinguishers to fight the flames until units from South Manatee Fire & Rescue arrived.

No one was injured.

The sheriff's offioce saids other Wal-Mart stores were notified to be on the lookout for the suspect.

Shortly after 6 p.m., a man fitting the arsonist's description walked into the Wal-Mart store at 8320 Lockwood Ridge Road in south Manatee County. He was identified as Wright, and taken into custody.

Investigators said a person who was in his pickup truck was questioned but not charged immediately.

The sheriff's office said there was substantial damage to the Bradenton Wal-Mart store. No dollar damage estimate was given.