Man allegedly attempted to burn down fuel station after bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos dispute

A man who was confronted by a gas station clerk for allegedly stealing a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos tried to burn down the business on Sunday, police say.



Joshua Lee Crook, 33, was charged on Monday with first-degree attempted arson, a felony, and three misdemeanors. His bail is $20,000, cash only. Just before 5pm, Crook went into the gas station in St. Louis, Missouri, and picked up a bag of the Cheetos.

The store manager, who alleges Crook had stolen from his store before, told Crook to put the bag down if he wasn't going to pay for it. Crook put the Cheetos back and left. About a minute later, he walked back into the store, grabbed the bag again and started walking out of the store.



The manager confronted him; Crook pushed the manager and punched him in the face. Outside, Crook grabbed a gas pump nozzle and threw it on the ground. Gasoline began pooling on the lot, and Crook threw a lit cigarette to the ground. He tried, but failed, to start a fire, authorities say. There was no damage. The misdemeanor charges are for third-degree assault, theft and trespassing.