A Roseville man is facing felony charges after prosecutors say he set multiple fires throughout his parents’ home, trapping them in the basement.
According to the complaint, police and fire crews were dispatched around 11:15 p.m. after one of the victims called 911 to report that they were trapped in the basement and unable to get out because the house was on fire. Responding officers arrived to find smoke coming from the roof and visible flames in the kitchen.
One officer entered the home and used a fire extinguisher to knock down part of the fire before exiting once firefighters arrived. Firefighters took over suppression efforts while officers helped the two people still inside escape through a basement egress window.
The third person living in the home—later identified as Alvarez—was not located during the initial search. Officers later found him walking near a nearby gas station and took him into custody.
Investigators say Alvarez poured lighter fluid on the living room couch and other parts of the home before igniting it. He allegedly lit objects in both the hallway and kitchen. A fire investigator later confirmed that multiple points of origin had been found and that the use of accelerants was consistent with an intentionally set fire. Officers found a lighter, Alvarez’s clothes, methamphetamine and identification near a shed in the backyard.
In an interview with officers, Alvarez was asked about setting the fire and he “shrugged in agreement.” The complaint also states Alvarez admitted to daily methamphetamine use and said he was using it at the time of the incident.
No one was physically injured in the fire, but the home sustained significant smoke damage.
Alvarez remains in the Ramsey County Jail on $1 million bail with an initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday morning. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each attempted murder charge and up to 20 years for first-degree arson.
A booking photo for Alvarez not immediately available.
