Crime & Safety
Burglary Suspect Badly Burned In San Jose House Fire
A man accused of driving a stolen car broke into a San Jose home and needed to be rescued after it caught on fire, police said.
SAN JOSE, CA — A burglary suspect was badly burned in a two-alarm fire early Monday evening in San Jose, fire officials said.
Firefighters were dispatched at 5:49 p.m. to the 600 block of Santee River Court at the request of law enforcement.
A fire had started in a single-family home but law enforcement officers kept firefighters from the home until officers felt the scene was secure, fire Capt. Brad Cloutier said.
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The home was pretty significantly involved in fire when law enforcement deemed the scene safe. Firefighters entered the home and rescued Raul Rodriguez, 29, who suffered pretty severe burns, Cloutier said. Rodriguez was taken to a hospital.
Firefighters knocked down the fire but not before it did significant damage to the home.
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"Inside it's pretty bad," Cloutier said. The home is not habitable, he said.
Before Rodriguez was rescued, he was apparently driving a stolen car that officers with an auto theft task force saw near Senter Road in San Jose, according to sheriff's officials.
Rodriguez allegedly ran from officers and broke into the home on Santee River Court and refused to come out, sheriff's officials said.
The homeowner got out unharmed. Rodriguez allegedly had a warrant out for his arrest for burglary.
Sheriff's officials plan to book Rodriguez into jail on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, resisting/delaying/obstructing an officer and residential burglary.
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