Police: Man Starts Apartment Fire, Almost Jumps Off Balcony
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – A Miami Beach man is under arrest after police said he started a fire in his apartment.
It happened just after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at 7801 Abbot Avenue.
Police said it all started with a dispute between a 22-year-old man and his mother.
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She left the building and called police. While officers were on the scene they noticed flames coming from the unit the woman shares with her son.
Many residents left the building when the fire started.
"I just heard people yelling from the street that the building was on fire. That's all I know - grabbed the dog grabbed my keys and got outside," said Thomas Cristao who lives in the building.
Once residents left the building they could not get back in for several hours because police were negotiating with the man who allegedly started the fire. Authorities said he was threatening to jump from a balcony.
After about two hours of negotiations, police said the man was taken safely into custody.
He was arrested and will face arson-related charges, according to police. Police said he will also undergo a psychiatric evaluation.