By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
A Cedar City man was arrested Monday night after police say he poured gasoline onto the porch of his former girlfriend’s trailer and set it on fire while the woman and her two children were inside.
Joseph Miguel Torres, 27, was booked into the Iron County Jail on suspicion of first-degree felony aggravated arson.
Cedar City Police officers responded shortly after 9:15 p.m. Sept. 1 to a report of a man attempting to set fire to a trailer near 1200 North in Cedar City, according to court documents.
When officers arrived, they reportedly smelled a strong odor of gasoline and observed fresh burn marks on the front porch.
The woman told police she had asked Torres, her former boyfriend, to leave the residence the previous day. Torres allegedly returned Monday night and began yelling for the woman and her children to come outside and speak with him.
When they remained inside, Torres allegedly threatened to set the trailer on fire unless they came out, the affidavit states.
The woman told officers she initially did not believe Torres would carry out the threat. She then looked outside and allegedly saw him pouring gasoline onto the porch before the porch caught fire.
The woman reportedly used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames and then took her children to a neighbor’s home for help. All three had been inside the trailer when the fire was started, police said.
Officers later located Torres walking along Main Street. After being advised of his rights, Torres acknowledged that he had been at the trailer but denied knowing anything about a fire, the affidavit stated.
Neighbors allegedly told investigators they had seen a man matching Torres’ description at the trailer and saw him ignite the porch.
The arresting officer asked that Torres remain in custody, citing the seriousness of the allegations, the evidence reportedly found at the scene and concerns that Torres posed a danger to others or might leave the area if released.