By Staff Report
A man is in custody after a tense incident on June 26 in which he allegedly attempted to set fire to an occupied home and block residents from escaping.
Deputies with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a suspicious person on Ten Mile Road. Upon arrival, they identified the suspect as Luis Torres-Aguirre. According to the sheriff’s office, Torres-Aguirre had piled tree limbs beneath vehicles and near a back porch, poured gasoline around the property, and barricaded a door in an apparent effort to trap the residents inside.
When deputies arrived, Torres-Aguirre fled on foot. K9 units from Washington and Holmes Correctional Institutions were deployed and quickly located him hiding beneath a nearby trailer. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Officials report that Torres-Aguirre was carrying a loaded firearm in his pocket at the time of arrest and is in the United States illegally. He currently faces charges including armed burglary of an occupied dwelling and felony criminal mischief. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold has been placed, and additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.
The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office credited the rapid coordination and response of all agencies involved with helping prevent what could have become a much more serious situation.
Brandon Tooth 
CAROL KENT SMITH 