Man, 20, Arrested in Arson of Store : Thousand Oaks: He was a customer of the comic-book shop, which was also defaced with anti-Semitic writing.

A 20-year-old customer of the Heroes and Legends comic-book store in Thousand Oaks was arrested Wednesday in connection with the arson and anti-Semitic vandalism of the store in September, authorities said.

Several more arrests are expected soon in the incident, in which the arsonists defaced the building in the 1100 block of East Thousand Oaks Boulevard with swastikas and the phrase “Die Jew.�

Ventura County sheriff’s deputies arrested Christopher David Nagano of Thousand Oaks about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on suspicion of terrorist acts and arson. He is being held on $1-million bail.

The anti-Semitic vandalism led sheriff’s deputies to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime and the community to rally around the family of owner Myron Cohen-Ross, a Jewish businessman who lives in Agoura Hills.

Sheriff’s Detective David Ehrlich said Wednesday that deputies believe Nagano acted with several other people, whom deputies hope to arrest within the next week.

Ehrlich said he does not believe it was Nagano who spray-painted the anti-Semitic markings, although he is suspected of helping to set the fire.

Cohen-Ross said Wednesday evening that he was shocked by Nagano’s arrest.

“I’ve known him like five or six years, and he’s always been a nice boy,� said Cohen-Ross, who also owns a comic-book store in Agoura Hills.

Cohen-Ross said Nagano, a 1991 graduate of Thousand Oaks High School and a part-time Moorpark College student, came to his Thousand Oaks store almost every week to get the latest issue of his favorite comic book, an English-language version of a Japanese science-fiction series called Robotech Comics.

Nagano was among the many loyal customers who began going to the Agoura Hills store after Cohen-Ross’ store in Thousand Oaks was destroyed, he said.

Nagano was “as upset as most of my other customers� about the arson incident, Cohen-Ross said.

Many of Cohen-Ross’ customers were among the more than 200 people who held a benefit rally for the businessman on Sept. 27, 10 days after the Thousand Oaks store was torched.

The rally, held at a Westlake Village church, was organized by a Costa Mesa-based Christian group called Shalom International, which is dedicated to fighting religious bigotry.

Cohen-Ross said Wednesday that he plans to reopen his Thousand Oaks store at a new location in the 2900 block of East Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Like Cohen-Ross, Nagano’s mother said she was shocked about the man’s arrest.

In an interview at the family home, where Nagano lives, Zen Nagano, 58, said she learned of the arrest when her son called her from the sheriff’s station.

“He was very surprised. I was very surprised. I’m so shocked,� she said, adding that she is upset by the extraordinarily high amount of bail.

Ehrlich said detectives arrested Nagano on Wednesday because Nagano was preparing to go on an out-of-state trip, although he added that he does not believe that he arranged the trip to avoid arrest.

Nagano’s mother said her son had planned to visit a friend in Minnesota.

The bail was set at $1 million, Ehrlich said, because of the seriousness of the crime and because it is critical to the investigation that Nagano not be released.

Nagano’s arraignment is scheduled for Friday.

Times staff writer Peggy Y. Lee and correspondent Patrick McCartney contributed to this report.