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MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee The man was criminally charged, accused of burning down his ex-girlfriend’s house. A dog died as a result of the fire.

Prosecutors charged Jose Jimenez-Turrell, 50, with arson of a building, burglary of a building or dwelling, disorderly conduct (domestic violence assessments) and mistreatment of animals.

According to the criminal complaint, the Milwaukee Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of a house fire near 28th Street and Greenfield Avenue on Monday, October 28.

The fire caused damage to a two-story single-family residence. A dog was found dead after inhaling smoke. The cause of the fire was determined to be a mattress in a rear bedroom, according to the complaint.

Police reviewed surveillance footage from the property and saw a man pull up to the residence in a blue Chevrolet Aveo on the day of the fire, retrieve a can of gasoline from the trunk and enter the home through the front door. The video showed the man leaving the house with the container, according to the complaint.

A fire was reported less than 10 minutes later.

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The police then contacted the owner of the damaged residence. She identified Jose Jimenez-Turrell as her former boyfriend and claimed they had been separated for a year. She said Jimenez-Turrell was driving a blue Chevrolet Aveo. She provided police with a likely address to locate him.

Jimenez-Turrell was located at the listed address and taken into custody.

A search warrant was executed on the blue Chevrolet Aveo. Inside the vehicle, police found gloves and clothing similar to those worn by the subject in the surveillance video. Lighters capable of igniting a liquid accelerator were also located.

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Following his arrest, Jimenez-Turrell admitted that he was driving the blue Chevrolet Aveo on the day of the fire and that he was in possession of a can of red gasoline. He said this container was intended for gardening work. Jimenez-Turrell denied entering the residence, but admitted he went there to retrieve money he said had been left in the mailbox.

Jimenez-Turrell alleged he was unable to access the residence because he did not have a key. Officers later learned from the homeowner that one of her house keys was missing.

Jimenez-Turrell is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 12 for a preliminary hearing.