Earlier yesterday, an act of arson rocked a Tampa gentleman's club, leading to an arrest and an injured firefighter. The Pink Pony Showgirls club located on North Lois Avenue was engulfed in flames, with the fire reported just before 5 a.m. Arvin Solimanpoor, 29, has been charged with intentionally setting the blaze. According to a WTSP report, Solimanpoor also discharged a firearm multiple times while inside the building.
Authorities report that the club, which doubles as an adult bookstore, was unoccupied at the time of the incident, as it had closed for the night at 4 a.m. Despite the early hour, one firefighter was injured while trying to swiftly control the blaze. The nature of the injury has not been disclosed. The attack happened at 4:55 a.m. at the 5200 block of North Lois Avenue, detailed by the Macon publication.
As police officers arrived at the scene in response to the "arson and shooting incident," they were met with further aggression. Solimanpoor threw a bottle filled with urine at an officer, an act which has been confirmed by the Tampa Police Department. Images released by Tampa Fire Rescue depicted firefighters combating the significant fire, as seen in coverage by Tampa Bay Times.
The community is now left to reckon with the destruction of property and the disregard for the safety of first responders. Meanwhile, Solimanpoor is facing serious legal repercussions, including an arson charge. The authorities have yet to release a motive for the crime or to definitively establish whether the gunshots caused any structural damage to the building.
