San Jose Police Arrest Suspect in Series of Vehicle Arsons

Suspect Arrested in San Jose Vehicle Fires

San Jose police arrested a man on Saturday in connection with a series of vehicle arsons that occurred in the city in January. Authorities identified the suspect as 30-year-old unhoused San Jose resident Jose Rodriguez-Barragan.

According to police, Rodriguez-Barragan is believed to have started approximately five car fires on January 21 and about six additional fires on January 27 in San Jose. Police stated that these incidents resulted in a total of about 19 vehicles being set on fire.

Investigation and Identification of Suspect

Investigators reported that they used the city's public safety camera database and reviewed hours of surveillance footage as part of their efforts to identify the person responsible for the fires. Police also canvassed the locations where the fires occurred and interviewed multiple victims and witnesses.

Through this investigative work, the San Jose Police Department said detectives identified Rodriguez-Barragan as the primary suspect in the vehicle arsons. The department described the process as involving collaboration across agencies and the use of technology to identify suspects.

Arrest and Charges

Police said that on Saturday, officers, assisted by the department's Neighborhood Quality of Life unit, located and arrested Rodriguez-Barragan. After the arrest, officers booked him into the Santa Clara County Main Jail.

Authorities reported that Rodriguez-Barragan was booked on suspicion of arson, drug-related charges, and multiple outstanding warrants. Officials stated that these actions followed the identification of Rodriguez-Barragan as the primary suspect in the series of vehicle fires in San Jose.

Officials Highlight Public Safety Concerns

San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph stated that acts of arson put lives at risk and threaten the safety of neighborhoods. He said this case demonstrates the importance of collaboration between agencies and the role of technology in identifying suspects and holding them accountable.

San Jose Fire Chief Robert Sapien Jr. stated that the fires created a significant threat to public safety and to responding firefighters. He expressed gratitude for the collaborative work between the San Jose Fire Department's Arson Unit and the San Jose Police Department, which he said led to the suspect's arrest and helped prevent further incidents.

Ongoing Investigation and Information Request

Police reported that detectives are continuing to investigate whether Rodriguez-Barragan is connected to any additional arsons beyond the incidents on January 21 and January 27. The San Jose Police Department asked anyone with information about these cases to contact Detective Nguyen #4431 of the department's assault unit at 4431@sanjoseca.gov or by calling 408-277-4161.