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Orem man arrested on reports of pouring gasoline into burglarized residence

By Rhett Wilkinson daily Herald - | Mar 5, 2018

An Orem man was arrested Saturday after pouring gasoline into a room, being booked into the Utah County jail on suspicion of two felony counts of burglary.

Leonardo Barajas, 20, was also arrested for reportedly consuming an alcohol product being underage.

Orem Police reported that a couple said they witnessed a man go into the storage room adjacent to their home. The husband said he walked out of his house and talked to the man, who had poured gasoline into the room. The couple said the man was Leonardo Barajas. They recognized him because his family resided on the same street, reports state.

Another neighbor said she contacted police at about midnight after someone had entered her residence without permission, according to a police report.

Police contacted this neighbor and saw a window on one end of the home broken, with the associated screen torn. Within the residence was found a big-screen television and a big fireplace, which had been toppled, reports state.

In a young girl’s bedroom Barajas had reportedly put down notes on her wall, desk and whiteboard, each with his name.

Police then reached another neighbor, who said Barajas was in the residence with a stench of gasoline. Barajas left the home at about 8 p.m., but came back two-and-a-half hours later, according to a police report.

Police found Barajas and took him to Timpanogos for a medical clearance. Barajas said he was not able to recall what occurred, since he had drank five shots of whiskey that evening. But he did say he recalled entering the first home and writing things in the young girl’s room. He also said that he tried to pour gasoline into a lawn mower, according to a police report.

Barajas was charged with a second-degree felony for burglary of a dwelling, a third-degree felony for burglary and class B misdemeanors for consuming alcohol as a minor and for measurable blood alcohol concentration.

The original version of this article inaccurately stated that the arrest took place Sunday. It was in fact Saturday.

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