Man charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to occupied Coachella home
A man who allegedly set fire to a Coachella home while the homeowners were inside was charged Tuesday with arson of an inhabited structure.
Tomas Cardoso Flores, 25, of Coachella, pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to the felony count, as well as a misdemeanor count of possession of controlled substances.
Deputies received a report just after 10 p.m. Thursday of a possible domestic disturbance at a home in the 5200 block of Calle Techa, after someone reported seeing curtains on fire within the residence, Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Vasquez said.
The residents, including a child, were able to escape the fire unharmed, he said.
Flores was arrested just south of the home, near the intersection of Avenue 53 and Calle Empalme, Vasquez said. A motive for the alleged arson was not disclosed, nor did police reveal whether the defendant knew the residents.
Flores was booked on suspicion of attempted murder last week but was not charged with that count by prosecutors on Tuesday. He was being held at the Riverside County jail in Indio in lieu of $55,000 bail and will return to court Aug. 3 for a felony settlement conference.
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
Find us on Facebook: KESQ News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2
Follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates: @KESQ & @Local2
We’re on Instagram! @KESQ_News_Channel_3 & @CBSLocal2
