A Durango man with a previous arson conviction is suspected of setting fire to a shed Thursday in south Durango.
Duane Suazo, 51, was being held Friday on $25,000 bail at the La Plata County Jail on suspicion of felony arson and obstructing a police officer, a misdemeanor.
Police arrived about 6:45 p.m. in the 700 block of East First Street to find a large shed engulfed in flames, said Lt. Ray Shupe of the Durango Police Department.
Suazo stood inside a shed next to the one on fire holding something in his hand that was burning, according to police and an arrest affidavit filed in La Plata County Combined Courts.
It appeared as though Suazo was about to start a second fire, so an officer grabbed him and pulled him out of the shed, the affidavit says.
Suazo is accused of fighting with the officer and trying to hit him, the affidavit says.
Suazo was handcuffed and taken to the Durango Police station, where he said he lit the shed on fire for “revenge” against his sister.
“Duane claimed his items went missing so he burned everything he owned that was stored in the shed,” the affidavit says.
He went on to say he smoked methamphetamine, marijuana and had two drinks.
“Duane claimed to hear voices and decided to ‘burn it,’” the affidavit says.
He apparently used two lighters, newspapers and other items to start the blaze.
Durango Fire Protection District did not return a phone call Friday seeking comment.
Suazo was arrested in September 2015 at the same address for starting a shed on fire. He pleaded guilty that year to misdemeanor arson and was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for time served.
At the time, police said Suazo was dealing with some “serious mental health issues” and was possibly on meth. He was seen cutting things up with a knife and feeding the fire.
shane@durangoherald.com
