Print
Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 19 July 2017 19 July 2017

By Roger Lanse

UPDATE:

Warrants for the arrest of four individuals involved in the Sunday, July 9, fire at the Silver City impound lot on Market Street, were issued by Magistrate Court on Thursday, July 13. The four individuals, all of Silver City, are Mario Barragan, 44; John Grimes, 39; Jose Reyes III, 38: and Justin Dominguez, 36;

Barragan was located by a Silver City police officer at a Daniel Street address on Sunday, July 16, according to an arrest report. He was transported to SCPD, arrested at about 8:56 p.m., and charged with conspiracy to commit arson, two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary, and two counts of conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence. Barragan was also determined to be wanted in Pima County, Arizona, for attempting to purchase a firearm when he was prohibited from possessing one.

Grimes was located the same day at the same address where Barragan was located, the arrest report stated. He was transported to SCPD, arrested at about 7:23 p.m., and charged with the same offences levied against Barragan, and, additionally, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and marijuana), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also on Sunday, July 13, at about 7:39 p.m., Reyes was arrested by a Grant County sheriff’s deputy who transferred custody to the SCPD. He is charged with single counts of conspiracy to commit arson, conspiracy to commit burglary, and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence.

SCPD officers arrested Justin Dominguez, 36, at about 11:57 a.m. at the McDonalds restaurant. He is charged with arson, conspiracy to commit arson, two counts of tampering with evidence, two counts of burglary, two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary, and two counts of conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence.

According to a criminal complaint, Dominguez was promised drugs and cash by a Christopher Murillo to start the fire, which he did by jumping the perimeter fence and pouring gasoline into the Jeep. The Jeep had been placed in impound on Thursday, July 6, after 32.84 grams of black tar heroin and 1.15 pounds of marijuana was seized from the vehicle which was in the possession of Murillo. According to the criminal complaint, Barragan drove Dominguez to the impound lot and Grimes stood watch as Dominguez committed the arson.

The stated purpose of the fire was to destroy evidence and cash in on an insurance claim.