Man set fire to own home & lied about November burglary in Zebulon, Wake Co. Sheriff's Office says

Wake County deputies arrested a man on Tuesday they say faked a burglary and burned his own home in November.

Deputies responded at approximately 7:18 a.m. on Nov. 30 to the 2100 block of Brannan Park Drive, near Zebulon, for a burglary and house fire report.

Upon arrival, deputies discovered a man, later identified as 36-year-old Ismael Rios Canales of Wendell, who claimed he was assaulted in the home and robbed by two unidentified men.

Canales said the suspects also started a fire inside before fleeing the scene. The Zebulon Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the fire.

Canales claimed he escaped the fire and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The sheriff's office said a thorough investigation revealed Canales intentionally set fire to the home, and the burglary did not take place.

Deputies arrested Canales and charged him with fraudulently setting fire to a dwelling, attempting to obtain property by false pretenses and insurance fraud.

The sheriff's office said while Canales was referred to as the homeowner at the time of the alleged crime, the property has "contested ownership."

While being processed at the Wake County Detention Center, deputies discovered Canales had an outstanding warrant for a statutory rape from 2007 out of Zebulon.