The bizarre event unfolded on Sunday at an AMPM petrol station in Victorville, about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, a witness spotted the bear and called police, reporting that it appeared to be “made of human flesh.”
Officers and a coroner rushed to the scene.
Video footage shows them carefully examining the bear before sealing it in an evidence bag.
Fears of a serial killer quickly spread among locals.
However, officials later confirmed that the bear contained no real human body parts.
They declared it a prank, but not before the station was closed and emergency resources were diverted.
Villanueva was arrested on Monday. Authorities have not disclosed his motive, and it’s unclear if he has a lawyer representing him.
Meanwhile, South Carolina-based artist Robert Kelly stepped forward to claim he made the bear.
Kelly told People magazine that he sold the prop to a buyer in Victorville just a week earlier.
“Every artist wants credit for their work,” said Kelly. “When I saw the news, I knew it was mine. People kept sending me links.”
Kelly, who sells horror-themed props online, denied having any involvement in the prank.
“I had no idea what the buyer planned to do. I wasn’t part of any stunt,” he said in a Facebook post.
The sheriff’s office warned that incidents like this waste critical resources. “These pranks can delay real emergency responses,” a spokesperson noted.
“We appreciate those who came forward with information during the investigation.”
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
The bear’s eerie design is consistent with Kelly’s other creations, which are often used for Halloween decorations and film props.
His work, known for its gory aesthetic, is sold through Etsy and shared on social media.