Phoenix police arrest suspect after February arson at Bell Road barbershop; court records outline investigative trail

Suspect arrested weeks after early-morning fire at north Phoenix business

Phoenix police have arrested a man accused of setting a fire at a north Phoenix barbershop in early February, a case investigators say was built through surveillance video, license-plate reader data and location records tied to a rented vehicle.

The fire occurred on February 5, 2026, at Bell Edge Barbershop near 40th Street and Bell Road. Investigators determined the blaze was intentionally set and treated the incident as arson.

What investigators say happened on February 5

Court records describe a sequence captured by security cameras in the shopping plaza parking lot shortly after 4 a.m. Video reviewed by investigators shows a man exiting a Toyota Prius V around 4:10 a.m., retrieving items from the vehicle and moving near the front of the barbershop. A short time later, video shows a bright flash consistent with ignition near the front door area, after which the vehicle leaves the plaza.

Investigators used specialized fire-investigation resources to support the determination that the fire was deliberately set, then focused on identifying the vehicle and its driver.

How police traced the vehicle

Investigators linked the Prius V to a rental-car agency through license-plate reader information. Detectives then sought additional records from the rental company, including GPS and location data associated with the vehicle’s use around the time of the fire. Those records placed the car at the shopping plaza at approximately 4:10 a.m. on February 5 and indicated it remained there for about five minutes.

Location records also placed the same vehicle at the shopping plaza on an earlier date, including a visit to a business in the strip mall, investigators wrote.

• Incident date: February 5, 2026

• Location: near 40th Street and Bell Road, Phoenix

• Vehicle identified: Toyota Prius V tied to a rental agency

Arrest and initial court proceedings

Police identified 45-year-old Aldo Saenz as a suspect and arrested him on February 25, 2026. Court records indicate Saenz is facing a felony arson charge connected to the barbershop fire.

After his arrest, Saenz was booked into the Maricopa County jail with bond set at $100,000, according to the court documents described in reporting on the case. During questioning, investigators wrote that Saenz requested an attorney when asked about the fire.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the arson charge is an allegation that will be tested in court.

Records cited in case reporting also note Saenz has a prior conviction related to drug smuggling and previously served a prison sentence. Phoenix authorities have not publicly released a motive for the fire, and investigators have said the reason for the alleged arson remains unclear.