The Odessa Police Department charged a man Thursday after he reportedly tried to burn a house down.
Police first noticed the man, 47-year-old Raymond Fresquez, in the 300 block of East First Street traveling westbound in a maroon Ford Ranger, where he parked and began walking southbound to the 200 block of South Hancock Avenue, an OPD press release said.
Around five minutes later, officers saw Fresquez walk back to his vehicle, the release detailed, and then saw bright flames coming from a residence in the 200 block of South Hancock Avenue.
Officers pulled Fresquez over in the 200 block of North Lee Avenue, and reportedly could smell a strong odor of gasoline coming from his vehicle, and could see a red gasoline can in the bed of his truck, the release stated.
Odessa Fire Rescue responded to and extinguished the fire, which had fully engulfed the residence, the release said. There were no reports of any injuries.
Fresquez was charged with arson, a second-degree felony, driving while license invalid with prior convictions, a class B misdemeanor, and was also charged on four outstanding warrants, the release detailed.
Jail records show Fresquez was taken to the Ector County Detention Center Thursday and has two bonds totaling $50,500.
