Bismarck man charged with arson in connection to apartment fire

(KFYR)
Published: Jun. 5, 2019 at 4:01 PM CDT
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

A Bismarck man is behind bars in connection to the apartment fire Wednesday morning in Bismarck.

Forty-five-year-old Eduardo Rodriguez is accused of breaking into the apartment building through a window. The affidavit says they found blood evidence at the scene. Police found Rodriguez close to the apartment, bleeding from cuts on his arm and in pain from a sprained ankle and bruised rib.

Documents say detectives with Bismarck Police Department found lighter fluid and a butane lighter inside Rodriguez’ backpack.

Officers say Rodriguez claims he accidentally started the apartment on fire after falling asleep and dropping a cigarette, but detectives say a cigarette wouldn’t light an ignitable liquid.

Rodriguez told law enforcement he breathed in the smoke. Detectives examined his nostrils and saw no signs of soot or singed nose hairs. Police say they didn’t find blistering in the back of the suspect’s throat either. The affidavit says the only signs of burn injuries on Rodriguez are two small blisters on his right palm.

Surveillance video shows a man matching Rodriguez’s description entering the building around midnight. Video then shows the building bursting into flames but then cuts out.

Documents say Rodriguez told police he jumped out of the third-story bedroom window to escape the fire.

He’s also accused of going to Pier One Imports and breaking a window to get in. The estimated repair costs there, according to court documents, is more than $2,000.

As for the apartment building, police say the unit on the third floor of the building where the fire started is a total loss.

The fire department says the roof of the building is also a total loss and damages will cost more than $10,000.

Police say there was also extensive smoke damage throughout the building.

Rodriguez is charged with arson, two counts of intentional criminal mischief and criminal trespass.