The 38-year-old Aurora man jailed for investigation of arson for allegedly setting a five-alarm fire in Denver in early January “sees and hears things … he has a mental condition,” according to his sister. Tony Becerra’s sibling was quoted by Aurora police in a 2020 police report obtained by CBS News.
In another arrest report from Denver in 2025, Becerra was sent to an area hospital due to what first responders called “psych issues he was exhibiting.”
The Denver Fire Department announced that Becerra was arrested on Jan. 13 for the fire that destroyed the Harker Heights apartment complex, which was under construction. The blaze started on Jan. 2 and it took days to fully extinguish the flames. Fire investigators have not revealed publicly what they believe a motive might have been for the suspected arson.
But police documents connected to two previous arrests for Becerra indicate suspected mental issues, and also raise questions about whether Becerra was homeless.
Following his arrest, the Denver Fire Department said an initial 911 call about the fire “inaccurately described (Becerra) as experiencing homelessness.”…