BURLESON, Texas – On October 20, 2025, at approximately 9:40 a.m., Burleson Public Safety Communications received a report of a man who had broken into Boulevard Baptist Church.
When officers arrived, they immediately noticed the smell of smoke coming from inside the building. Officers located the suspect, who had barricaded himself inside a room within the church. After a brief standoff, the man complied with commands and exited the room without incident.
Upon entering the room, officers found it in disarray and identified two areas where fires had apparently been started.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect was also the driver of a vehicle involved in a crash earlier that morning, which had fled the scene. That vehicle was later confirmed to be stolen out of Midland, Texas.
The suspect, Rafael Rodriguez Jr., was arrested and transported to the Johnson County Jail. He faces the following charges:
-
Arson – Building – Place of Worship ($500,000 bond)
-
Burglary of Building (Forced Entry) ($500,000 bond)
-
Theft of Property $2,500–$30,000 (Motor Vehicle) ($50,000 bond)
-
Collision Involving Damage to Vehicle < $200 ($10,000 bond)
