article

MILWAUKEE – TO milwaukee A man has been criminally charged, accused of setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s house. A dog died as a result of the fire.

Prosecutors charged Jose Jimenez-Turrell, 50, with arson of a building, burglary of a building or dwelling, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments) and animal abuse.

According to the criminal complaint, the Milwaukee Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of a house fire near 28th Street and Greenfield Avenue on Monday, October 28.

The fire caused damage to a two-story single-family residence. A dog was found dead from smoke inhalation. The source of the fire was determined to be a mattress in a back bedroom, according to the complaint.

Police reviewed surveillance footage from the property and saw a man arrive at the residence in a blue Chevrolet Aveo on the day of the fire, remove a can of gasoline from the trunk and enter the home through the front door. The video showed the man leaving the house with the container, according to the complaint.

Less than 10 minutes later a fire was reported.

SIGN UP TODAY: Receive daily headlines and breaking news emails from FOX6 News

Officers then contacted the owner of the damaged residence. She identified José Jiménez-Turrell as her ex-boyfriend and claimed they had been separated for the past year. He said Jimenez-Turrell operates a blue Chevrolet Aveo. She provided police with a probable address to locate him.

Jimenez-Turrell was located at the address provided and taken into custody.

A search warrant was executed for the blue Chevrolet Aveo. Inside the vehicle, police located gloves and clothing similar to those worn by the subject in the surveillance video. Lighters capable of igniting a liquid accelerator were also located.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android

Upon his arrest, Jimenez-Turrell admitted that he was driving the blue Chevrolet Aveo on the day of the fire and that he was in possession of a red container of gasoline. He said this container was for yard work. Jimenez-Turrell denied entering the residence, but accepted that he had gone there to collect money, which he claimed was supposed to have been left in the mailbox.

Jiménez-Turrell alleged that he was unable to access the residence because he did not have a key. Officers later learned from the homeowner that one of her house keys was missing.

Jimenez-Turrell is due in court on Nov. 12 for a preliminary hearing.