Man passed out in backyard while house burns

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Maricopa frefighters gather outside a house fire on Lucera Lane in Glennwilde. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

A Maricopa man was found by firefighters passed out on his patio Jan. 11 after they put out a blaze in his home.

According to a Maricopa Police probable cause statement, a man referred to as Shawn L., as his last name has been redacted, was charged with domestic violence child abuse, endangerment, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jan. 11 at about 5:05 p.m. Maricopa firefighters responded to a house fire on Lucera Lane.

The man named Shawn was watching his children, and food was being prepared in the kitchen. Shawn allegedly admitted to “recklessly consuming alcohol and marijuana while watching his two juvenile children.”

The police report stated, “Shawn passed out in a chair on the back patio of the home, while the fried food was being cooked on the stove.”

Eventually a fire ignited, damaging the two-story home. The children escaped.

The report continued, “While the home was burning and while Maricopa Firefighters were fighting the fire inside the home, Shawn was still passed out on a chair on the back patio.”

After putting out the fire, firefighters discovered the man.

“Shawn was found by Maricopa Fire Department personnel and did not respond to verbal attempts to wake him. Shawn had to be shaken by Maricopa Fire personnel to be awoken,” the report stated.

Shawn allegedly admitted, “to using and owning all the marijuana and drug paraphernalia, which was found on a table near where he was sleeping. Shawn said his medical marijuana card had expired.”