Staff Report

ROCKFORD – A Rockford man has been jailed after police say he broke into a east-side department store and started a fire last month.

Sean Cardenas, 20, is charged with burglar, arson and felony criminal damage to property, charges that stem was reported as a looting incident at Burlington Coat Factory May 30.

Rockford officers responded to the department store at about 11 p.m., and noticed the front door had been smashed. Police also discovered a fire smoldering in the northeast corner of the store.

Cardenas was developed as s suspect after further investigation by the Rockford Fire and Rockford Police, departments. He is being held on a $300,000 bond and is due in court Aug. 13.

The incident occurred hours after a march to protest the death of Minnesota resident George Floyd on Rockford’s west side turned violent and rioters broke windows and damaged property at the District 1 police headquarters. Several Rockford stores were looted.