A man investigators say lit three cars on fire and threw a Molotov cocktail at a house over the weekend has been arrested.

Cory Molloy, 41, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Tuesday for investigation of attempted aggravated arson, arson, setting off an incendiary device and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.

At about 5:20 a.m. Sunday, a BMW was set on fire in a driveway near 4500 South and 3100 East, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Clint Smith. Two other vehicles parked on the street nearby were also set on fire. In addition, small fires were found burning in the yard, as were the remains of a Molotov cocktail that may have been thrown at the residence, he said.

Members of the Salt Lake Arson Task Force, including members from both the Salt Lake Fire Department and UFA, were called to investigate the incident. After interviewing victims and witnesses, investigators came up with a name to follow, Smith said.

"(An individual) mentioned this guy's name he had issues with in the past," Smith said.

He said that, the more the task force looked into the name, the more red flags were raised.

With help from a SWAT team and the bomb squad, the task force served a search warrant Tuesday at Molloy's residence.

Officials first set up surveillance on Molloy's home, near 1500 South and 1000 East, stopped him as he was driving and took him into custody, said Salt Lake fire Capt. Mark Bednarik.

They then searched his house and recovered about 20 pieces of undisclosed evidence, he said.

Bednarik said Tuesday he could not comment on what was found in the home or on a possible motive because the investigation was ongoing. Additional charges were pending Wednesday.

Utah court records show Molloy was extradited from Salt Lake County to Florida in 2003 for being a fugitive wanted for burglary. In 1999 he was convicted of simple assault in 3rd District Court.

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