Cherry Valley Man Leaving Fire Arrested on Suspicion of Possessing Explosives

A Cherry Valley man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of possessing explosives as he left the scene of a fire near a shooting area south of Banning and Beaumont, authorities said Monday.

About 3:30 p.m. Sunday, a deputy stopped a vehicle seen speeding away from a brush fire in the hills south of Beaumont, Sgt. Bob Epps of the sheriff's Cabazon Station said.

Cal-Fire Arson investigators and Riverside County Sheriff's Hazardous Device deputies responded because items in the vehicle allegedly included an illegal explosive and an improvised explosive device, according to Epps.

Investigative efforts indicated there were more explosives-related items at the subject's home, and a search warrant was obtained, Epps said. Inside the home, deputies found several items related to the original explosives charges, Epps said.

Zackariah William Borynack, 22, of Cherry Valley, was arrested and booked at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of possessing explosives, possessing a destructive device, and possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony, Epps said.

Borynack is considered a 'person of interest,' not an arson suspect, in the fire reported about 3 p.m. near Sunset Avenue and Longhorn Road, said Cheri Patterson of Cal Fire-Riverside County.

Borynack was one of about 20 people seen leaving the scene of the fire, which started near a shooting area, Patterson said Monday.

Anyone with further information about Borynack was urged to contact Deputy Jeff Lundgren at (951)-955-1003.