Dalton, Ga., police arrest 22-year-old arson suspect after two dogs die in blaze

The Dalton Police Department arrested a 22-year-old man Monday on charges of first-degree arson, burglary and cruelty to animals, police said.

Shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 11, the Dalton Fire Department was called to a fire at the apartment of Cesar Carrillo's estranged wife at 1915 Heathcliff Drive. Firefighters contained the fire, but two dogs in the apartment did not survive, Dalton Police Department spokesman Bruce Frazier said in a news release.

Investigators determined the fire was an arson that started with the burning of clothes hanging in a closet that belonged to Roberto Garcia, a friend of Carrillo's estranged wife, Maria Gomez. Police detectives determined Carrillo entered the apartment after Gomez left for work that morning, setting fire to Garcia's clothes, Frazier said.

When Garcia returned to the apartment after work, he found the apartment full of smoke, could not find the dogs and called 911, Frazier said.

Carrillo turned himself in after detectives obtained warrants for his arrest, Frazier said.

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