Man Arrested After Setting Home On Fire With Fireworks
LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4)- Investigators say a man set fire to his house in Loveland with fireworks.
Larimer County deputies say it all started when they responded to a burglar alarm at the mobile home. They say that Leonard Simonini was hiding inside and when deputies entered the home, he started setting off large fireworks.
A K-9 officer got him out of the house after it caught fire.
Firefighters were called to fight the blaze.
Simonini was arrested and taken to the hospital.
CBS4's Dominic Garcia spoke to Leonard Simonini's father, David, who said his son has struggled with mental illness for years.
"He can't focus, can't keep a straight job… he just doesn't understand how to keep life rolling,"said Simonini.
Simonini also said his son has been in and out of jail and was known to police. He thinks he probably got scared and paranoid when police showed up. Simonini went on to tell CBS4 that they've tried to get him help for years but he's caught in a vicious cycle.
"They toss him in jail, then he'll get out, they don't set the bond very high, they don't really do anything… you try and you try but you can't do anything to help."
Dominic Garcia anchors CBS4 News at 5 p.m. and reports for CBS4 News at 10 p.m. Connect with the Denver native on Twitter @cbs4dom & on Facebook.