San Jose: Man arrested in connection with swarm of suspected vehicle arsons

SAN JOSE — Police announced that they have arrested a man in connection with a swarm of suspected car arsons reported near downtown and Willow Glen late last month, linking him to nearly 20 torched vehicles while also looking into his potential ties to a handful of others.

Jose Rodriguez-Barragan, 30, was arrested Friday on suspicion of setting five fires that burned seven vehicles on Jan. 21, and of setting at least five fires that burned 12 vehicles on Jan. 27, according to the San Jose Police Department. The footprint of the fires, which caused no injuries, span from near the SAP Center to the start of Almaden Expressway near Highway 87, east of Willow Glen.

Rodriguez-Barragan was also booked into the Elmwood men’s jail in Milpitas on suspicion of drug offenses and for several active arrest warrants, according to police and jail records. He is being held without bail.

“These fires created a significant threat to public safety and to our responding firefighters,” San Jose Fire Department Chief Robert Sapien Jr. said in a statement. “We are grateful for the collaborative work between SJFD’s Arson Unit and SJPD that led to the suspect’s arrest and helped prevent further incidents.”

Police Chief Paul Joseph added: “This case highlights the importance of collaboration across agencies and the critical role of technology in identifying suspects and holding them accountable.”

According to police and fire investigators, Rodriguez-Barragan is alleged to have set the Jan. 21 fires between 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. in five locations near West San Carlos Street and Highway 87.

The largest cluster of car fires linked to him were reported Jan. 27 between midnight and 1:15 a.m., involving single downtown car fires — one at Autumn Street and Julian Street, one at Woz Way and Almaden Boulevard — and another single car fire back in the Alma neighborhood, at Floyd Street and Lick Avenue.

Then half a mile away, near where Almaden Road and Almaden Expressway meet, six vehicles were set on fire on the Almaden Road side and three on the expressway side.

Investigators drew on a database of publicly maintained and resident security cameras, reviewed the footage and canvassed the fire sites to re-interview victims and witnesses, police said. That eventually led to the SJPD assaults unit identifying and securing an arrest warrant for Rodriguez-Barragan, who police described as an unhoused San Jose resident.

Police added Monday that “detectives are continuing the investigation to determine whether the suspect is connected to any additional arson incidents.” A spokesperson confirmed that those include the first cases in the string of arson car fires, reported Dec. 18 between 5:30 a.m and 6:30 a.m., involving three vehicles parked in separate locations in Willow Glen and one vehicle near Race Street and Auzerais Avenue.

Another incident for which Rodriguez-Barragan is being investigated was reported Jan. 22 around 12:15 a.m., when two vehicles were torched in the 300 block of San Jose Avenue, again in the Alma area.

Anyone with information about the arson fires can contact the SJPD assaults unit at 408-277-4161 or email Detective Tien Nguyen at 4431@sanjoseca.gov. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.