TEMPE, Ariz. — Hours after three people were arrested at a Valley home, that same home caught fire, authorities say.
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Mesa police said detectives attempted to take 29-year-old Michael Devin Dietz Ruiz into custody. Dietz Ruiz was wanted on multiple felony warrants.
Dietz Ruiz fled from detectives in a vehicle and was later determined to be inside a home in Tempe. Also inside the home was 40-year-old Judd Harper, who was wanted on a felony parole violation warrant related to a kidnapping conviction.
With the assistance of SWAT, Mesa police executed a search warrant at the location.
Several people voluntarily left the home and were detained. Dietz Ruiz and Harper barricaded themselves inside the home. Detectives repeated commands over a loudspeaker, but both Harper and Dietz Ruiz refused to surrender.
SWAT deployed four flameless gas containers into the residence. Then, Dietz Ruiz and Harper left the residence. Both were taken into custody and booked on outstanding warrants.
Dietz Ruiz was arrested for the following active felony warrants:
– Theft of means of transportation
– Possession of dangerous drugs
– Aggravated identity theft
He was also arrested and faces several new charges, including unlawful flight from law enforcement, resisting arrest, and possession of dangerous drugs.
Harper was arrested on a no-bond felony Department of Corrections parole violation warrant related to a kidnapping conviction.
Two other individuals were arrested as well: 45-year-old Dara Man was arrested for multiple felony warrants, including a probation violation and possession of narcotics. Sabra Harrison, 37, was arrested for multiple felony and misdemeanor warrants for fraud and probation violation.
The four spent flameless gas canisters were left at the home, Mesa police said.
The property was then returned to the owner around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2.
“We are unable to comment on any fire-related aspects of the incident or the associated emergency response, as those matters remain part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Tempe Fire Department,” Mesa police said in a news release.
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Around 4 a.m., Tempe Fire responded to the residence after a report of an odor. Crews at the scene found a small area of burned material in the home’s attic, removed it, and extinguished the fire. Thermal imaging was conducted by crews on scene, and no other signs of heat or fire were observed.
A Tempe fire investigator remained on the scene, and at around 6 a.m., the investigator observed light smoke coming from the attic and requested additional assistance. Within minutes, Tempe Fire said, the fire spread to the rest of the home.
Firefighters worked to contain and extinguish the fire, and no injuries were reported.
“Investigators are continuing to examine the events leading up to the fire as part of the ongoing investigation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and has not been determined,” Tempe Fire said in a statement.
Because of the “circumstances surrounding the incident,” multiple agencies are investigating the incident. Tempe Fire Medical Rescue is leading the investigation in coordination with the Mesa Police Department, Mesa Fire and Medical Department, Tempe Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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