Police: Man arrested after lying about kidnapping, setting his own car on fire

An Odessa man has been arrested after police say lied about being kidnapped and set his own car on fire.

Oscar Carrillo, 31, has been charged and arrested for Arson, a 2nd Degree Felony, and False Report to a Police Officer, a Class B Misdemeanor.

According to the Odessa Police Department, on March 19 a man reported an aggravated kidnapping to police.

The complainant, identified as Carrillo, told officers that he had been kidnapped at gunpoint.

Carrillo told police that the kidnapper had told him to drive his car to the 300 block of FM 1601, and once they were there the suspect then set the car on fire.

It was then that he was able to escape on foot and call police, Carrillo told police.

Throughout the investigation Carrillo refused to cooperate with detectives, according to an arrest affidavit.

Investigators then began identifying and interviewing associates of Carrillo. An acquaintance told police that Carrillo had asked him four days before the alleged kidnapping to "blow up" his vehicle because he was behind on his payment, according to the affidavit.

The same acquaintance borrowed Carrillo's vehicle later and noticed gasoline in a milk jug left in the passenger compartment, the affidavit states.

Investigators discovered that Carrillo's cell phone records showed that he made a total of five calls during the time he said he was kidnapped.

It was also found that Carrillo's vehicle had a past due balance of $3,275 and had been authorized for repossession on March 15.

Police then determined that Carrillo intentionally set his car on fire and filed a false report to cover up his actions..

Carrillo was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon.