Man sets own car on fire; fire spreads to two other vehicles

Daury Leal Rodriguez, 47, of Denison was arrested on March 25 and charged with second degree arson, interference with official acts, criminal mischief in the first degree, criminal mischief in the second degree and insurance fraud – presenting false information.

The criminal complaint filed in district court alleges that on March 20 at approximately 1:17 a.m., Leal Rodriguez set his red 2008 GMC Acadia on fire. The fire then spread to two other vehicles – a gray 2016 Honda Pilot and a white 2000 Nissan Frontier.

Leal Rodriguez told Officers Torres and Wolff with the Denison Police Department that his vehicle started on fire because it had mechanical issues. However, Leal Rodriguez could be seen in a video intentionally starting his car on fire.

All three vehicles were a total loss. The value of the Honda Pilot was estimated at $22,000, and the value of the Nissan Frontier was estimated at $6,000.

A search warrant was executed on March 27 at Leal Rodriguez's apartment located in the 1200 block of North 26th Street, to search for charred clothing, shoes, accelerants and igniters. During the search a black robe with a burn mark on the left sleeve was found hanging on the bedroom door of Leal Rodriguez's apartment.

An affidavit filed on March 24 by Wolff said video obtained of the incident showed Leal Rodriguez moving his vehicle out of the parking stall earlier in the day on March 19. The video showed Leal Rodriguez exiting his apartment in the early morning hours of March 20, walking to his gray 2008 Mazda and obtaining a white jug. He is then seen walking to his GMC Acadia and appeared to be dumping an accelerant from the white jug on the vehicle and inside the driver's side area. An explosion occurs and Leal Rodriguez is seen running from the vehicle and back into his apartment complex. It appeared that Leal Rodriguez's clothing was burned in the incident.