Police: Cedar Rapids man breaks into vacant home, starts fire

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man is accused of breaking into a home and starting a small fire.

Public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said a witness saw a man entering a vacant home at 1616 J St. SW shortly after noon on Tuesday. The witness said the man kicked in the front door of the home.

Police responded after the witness reported the break-in from a nearby convenience store. Not knowing whether the suspect inside was armed, officers drew their weapons and formed a perimeter around the home, Buelow said.

'That's just for officer safety,” Buelow said.

As the perimeter was being set up, the suspect exited the back of the residence. He was taken into custody and identified as 50-year-old Richard D. Alatalo.

Buelow said police did a search of the home and found a small fire on the floor of one of the bedrooms. The fire department responded to the scene, but the officer put out the fire with an extinguisher.

Alatalo was arrested and faces charges of second-degree arson and third-degree burglary.