An attempted break in Sunday evening at house in Fircrest turned deadly for the suspected burglar, and police are investigating.
Pierce County Sheriff's Department deputies said a man tried to force his way into a home and then fled to a property in University Place, where he broke into a horse trailer. A fire started inside, and the man didn't listen to calls to leave. When firefighters extinguished the flames, the man was found dead inside.
The deceased has not been publicly identified. Deputies said they were awaiting further information from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office.
The string of events began at about 7:39 p.m. when Fircrest Police Department officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress. Deputies said a homeowner called 911 to report that a man had tried to push his way into their house, but they were able to keep him out. The man then ran into a wooded area south of the home.
Deputies and University Place Police responded to assist and search for the burglar, who was reportedly in his underwear during the attempted break-in. Sheriff's Department spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss said deputies found the man on a property in University Place and saw him try to light a vehicle on fire. The man then broke into a horse trailer.
"When deputies were trying to yell at him to come out, then they started seeing smoke coming from the trailer," Moss said in a Facebook video.
A fire was started, and Moss said the man inside didn't listen to calls to come out of the trailer. West Pierce Fire & Rescue responded and put out the fire. Once out, the man was found dead inside.
Detectives, forensic investigators and the Pierce County fire marshal went to the scene to assist with the death investigation. It's unclear how the fire was started. Fircrest police are investigating the initial burglary.
