Man arrested for allegedly dousing self with gasoline and entering WinCo in Orem with lighter

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — A man was arrested and charged after allegedly dousing himself with gasoline and entering a WinCo in Orem with a lighter. Police say he has a history involving setting himself on fire.

Hector Alfredo Valdez, 30, is charged with one count of unlawful conduct involving an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device, a second-degree felony.

According to court documents, on Oct. 24, 2025, the Orem Police Department responded to WinCo on reports of a suspicious man who smelled like gasoline. It was reported that the man — later identified as Valdez — entered the store with a bottle of clear liquid and went into the bathroom.

When officers arrived, Valdez was not in the bathroom, but they recovered a 20-ounce bottle that allegedly smelled of gasoline. About a quarter of the bottle was full, and the hat Valdez was reportedly wearing was also inside the bathroom.

Police spotted Valdez at the front of the store and approached him, smelling a “strong odor of gasoline” coming from his person. He told police that he was “taking the gasoline to a friend,” but documents say he couldn’t explain why he left the bottle in the bathroom, and why it was mostly empty.

Valdez consented to a search, according to documents, and police located a lighter on his person and found that he had poured the gasoline onto himself. He was identified as Valdez, and officers learned that he had previously set himself on fire in front of police officers.

According to documents, in June 2025, Valdez allegedly burned 70 to 75% of his body after “pouring gasoline on himself and lighting himself on fire during an interaction with Orem law enforcement.” He was involuntarily committed to the hospital and received treatment.

After Valdez was located, police spoke with the Uber driver who had transported him to the Winco. The driver stated that when he picked up Valdez, he could smell gasoline and saw him holding a bottle that he thought contained gasoline.

The Uber driver claimed that he didn’t know whether Valdez was drinking the gasoline or pouring it on himself. During the ride, Valdez allegedly borrowed the driver’s phone to call a friend and tell her that he didn’t feel safe inside the Uber.

When they arrived at WinCo, the driver walked in with Valdez and told Valdez’s friend that he had entered the bathroom with the alleged bottle of gasoline. Valdez’s friend then contacted the police due to a history of Valdez lighting himself on fire.

Valdez was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail due to public safety concerns. He is currently being held on bail.