Police investigate two fires at auto repair shop, arrest made in one case

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police have arrested a man who allegedly set a car on fire at an auto repair shop because his vehicle was not ready.

It was one of two fires at the Gordilla Auto Repair in southeast Memphis over the last two months.

Anthony Ross, 43, was booked in the Shelby County Jail Wednesday on a charge of setting a personal property on fire.

Police said on July 30, firefighters were called to Gordillo Auto Repair in the 3700 block of Contractors Place to put out a fire.

The owner of the business does not speak English, but his son told WREG that Ross slapped his father and then went outside and started a fire inside his dad’s burgundy minivan.

“One guy sold a car to Ross. The seller brought him here and showed him the car, but the car wasn’t ready because the guy had never brought us the parts,” said the son. “We told him if you want to take the car, take the car. We don’t care. We never got paid for any repairs.”

According to the affidavit of complaint, Ross used a cigarette lighter to set a blanket inside the van on fire. The victim was able to extinguish the fire but said Ross tried to hit him again.

The owner of Gordillo Auto Repair said Ross later sent him a picture of his wife going into their home and said “I know where you live.”

The owner’s son, who did not want to be identified, said Ross also threatened to damage his business. “He told my dad he was going to burn the building.”

Police said a month later, someone set eight vehicles on fire outside the auto repair shop. No one has been charged in that case, but police said it was possibly related to the other incident.

Police told the business owner the damage was around $130,000, according to his son.

The owner’s son said their cameras were not working that night, but an employee did spot a man running from the business.

Ross is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

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