On February 1, 2013 at 12:45 a.m., Tucson Police Depatment officers responded to a report of a vehicle explosion in the 9500 block of East Shiloh Street. Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle on fire in a parking lot of the apartment complex. Personnel from the Tucson Fire Department responded to extinguish the fire. No one was injured.
The owner of the vehicle immediately advised police that she believed her estranged husband was responsible for the fire. Detectives from the Special Investigations Unit along with Tucson Police Department EOD personnel responded to continue the investigation. They spoke to witnesses and collected crucial items of evidence from the scene. Detectives determined that the incident was an arson fire and not caused by an explosive device or bomb as it originally appeared.
They began to investigate the victims claim that her estranged husband was responsible for the arson. The husband was identified as 30-year old Fernando Rodriguez. Detectives learned that there were prior reported acts of domestic violence committed by Mr. Rodriguez against the victim. In December, 2012, Mr. Rodriguez was served with an order of protection obtained by the victim. The order of protection stated that the suspect was not to contact the victim and was not to possess any weapons.
Detectives further learned that after the order of protection was served on Mr. Rodriguez, he sent multiple threatening text messages, as well as YouTube videos portraying violence to the victim. He also used GPS information obtained from the victims cell phone to follow her and show up at various locations. Detectives obtained a search warrant for Mr. Rodriguez home. Various items of evidence were collected from his residence as well as multiple firearms, which were a violation of the protection order.
No arrest has been made regarding the arson of the vehicle, however the investigation is ongoing at this time. Mr. Rodriguez was booked into Pima County Jail for one felony count of Domestic Violence-Stalking, twenty-one felony counts of Domestic Violence-Aggravated Harassment and one misdemeanor count of Violation of a Court Order.