A 52-year-old man accused of intentionally igniting fires at two separate residences in Universal City earlier this year told authorities that one of the blazes was staged merely as a "scare tactic" against individuals he claimed were harassing his relatives, according to newly filed court affidavits.
Daniel Navejar formally faced two counts on September 2, including arson and arson of a habitation, stemming from the series of incidents that took place in March. The primary offense, arson of a habitation, is classified under Texas law as a first-degree felony, which carries severe legal repercussions including a potential prison term ranging anywhere from five to 99 years if he is convicted.
A presiding judge set Navejar’s bond at $150,000 in connection with the newly filed arson warrants. However, judicial records reveal that Navejar was already incarcerated, having spent months behind bars at the Bexar County jail since mid-March while awaiting trial on unrelated offenses involving the fraudulent use of identifying information and the burglary of a habitation.
The string of incendiary incidents initially began on the morning of March 5, when emergency crews were dispatched to a reported structure fire situated along the 900 block of Cibolo Trail. While emergency records did not definitively establish whether any occupants were inside the home at the time the flames were ignited, the scene immediately raised suspicions among local first responders.
Upon arriving to inspect the property, investigators representing the Universal City Fire Marshal's office discovered two distinct charred areas of vegetation in the yard. Both burn sites emitted a noticeable odor of gasoline and bore an oily chemical residue consistent with liquid accelerants.
Surveillance footage retrieved from a neighboring residence provided crucial visual evidence of the March 5 incident. The footage captured an individual dressed in dark garments, with a black shirt wrapped around his face to conceal his identity and walking with a noticeable limp, who carried a red fuel container and deliberately ignited two separate spots near the residence before departing.
A second, more dangerous incident occurred on March 14 at a neighboring residence located within the same 900 block of Cibolo Trail. Unlike the initial fire, two residents were actively inside the home when the property was targeted, elevating the severity of the threat and the resulting criminal charges.
At the second crime scene, arson investigators recovered an empty gasoline container, a severely scorched patio chair cushion, and physical residue of fuel. An examination of the perimeter revealed a continuous trail of poured gasoline that extended from the front facade of the residence toward the backyard, with the resulting flames inflicting damage on the structure.
Security cameras again captured the March 14 blaze, documenting a suspect clad in dark clothing and a baseball cap, carrying a backpack. The video showed the individual methodically pouring flammable liquid along the exterior side of the home before setting a fire near the front entrance and fleeing the area on a bicycle.
The investigation progressed rapidly when Universal City police officers arrested Navejar on unrelated charges the very next day, on March 15. Recognizing that his physical traits closely matched the suspect observed in the surveillance recordings, patrol officers promptly notified fire marshal investigators, who conducted an in-person interrogation of Navejar that same afternoon.
Despite the suspect being questioned and identified almost immediately in the middle of March, official court records do not provide an explanation as to why the formal felony arson indictments were not officially processed until early September.
During his interview with fire investigators, Navejar conceded that he was indeed the individual captured on surveillance video at both Cibolo Trail crime scenes. While the arrest affidavit did not document any remarks from Navejar concerning the March 5 fire, he alleged that the resident living at the March 14 address had engaged in continuous harassment directed at his family.
Addressing his living circumstances, Navejar informed detectives that he was experiencing homelessness and had been residing in the 800 block of Straight Lane, a street located directly behind the house targeted in the March 14 arson. Although county files show his last formal residence was located in Gonzales, and public records indicate he has family members in the vicinity, Navejar admitted to staying in nearby properties that were either vacant or listed for sale.
Navejar openly discussed the fire with officials, questioning whether they realized how rapidly a structure could be consumed by flames and asserting that sometimes people require a serious wakeup call. He downplayed the threat of the March 14 incident by claiming the fire was never going to spread out of control and had been planned strictly as a scare tactic.
When questioned about the extensive gasoline line poured across the side of the property, Navejar maintained that the trail was intentionally left unlit and was designed purely as an ominous warning. He told authorities he orchestrated the minor blaze near the front to seize the resident's attention, noting to investigators that the entire residence could have easily gone up in smoke.
Although Navejar acknowledged his appearance in the security footage, he declined to supply complete operational details of the acts at that time. He told investigators that he needed to get situated and clear his mind before fully cooperating, stating that they would not receive everything they sought until his personal circumstances were settled.
Court background records show that Navejar has prior exposure to the criminal justice system, having previously been convicted of separate burglary offenses in 2009 and 2010.
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