A man suspected of setting fire inside an abandoned home on Saturday has been charged with arson.
Jaime R. Garcia, 32, is charged with a third-degree felony count of arson and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Las Cruces fire and police were dispatched to the report from an alert neighbor of smoke showing from a window of an abandoned home on the 900 block of Brownlee Avenue. Firefighters entered the home and quickly extinguished the fire that was contained to one small room.
Las Cruces police officers located Garcia crouched down in an alcove of the structure. Officers had to give Garcia multiple commands to exit from the alcove before he complied.
When interviewed by police, Garcia initially indicated that he was a firefighter and knew how to control the fire. Police and fire investigators determined that Garcia is not a firefighter. Investigators learned that Garcia stayed in the abandoned home the previous night and had no permission to be there.
Garcia was arrested Saturday afternoon and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.
Information from Las Cruces Police