Miami

Arrest Made After Fire Tears Through Miami Beach Apartment Building

Police have arrested a woman they say started a fire that forced residents of a Miami Beach apartment building to evacuate Friday morning.

Miami Beach Police arrested 30-year-old Mindrey Delgado, who they say confessed to her role in the incident. Delgado faces multiple charges, including felony first-degree arson and second-degree attempted murder.

The fire was reported at the building at 2814 Collins Avenue around 5:30 a.m. Friday, Miami Beach Fire officials said.

Officials said three fire engines, three rescue units and one ladder truck responded to the fire, which started in a hallway.

One person suffered second-degree burns to 30 percent of his body and was taken to a nearby hospital, fire officials said. The fire caused smoke and water damage throughout the building and affected four units.

About 60 people were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross was called in to assist families who will be displaced, officials said.

Tenant Yan Iglesias and his son Yanniss said they heard something suspicious outside their apartment just before the fire.

"I mean, he woke up because he heard the knocking, the couch is right next to the door," Yan Iglesias said. "He said 'are you expecting someone?' I said 'Now?' He was like 'there's a crazy lady banging on the door.'"

According to investigators, the fire was started outside a door. Yanniss said it was theirs.

"I grabbed a knife, I didn’t know if someone was going to break in," he said. "I heard some girl tapping on the door acting all crazy. She started laughing and then I started hearing sparking. She was kicking the door, the sparking started again and then smoke started coming through the top and then the bottom."

Yan says he didn’t stick around inside for long. He grabbed his son and mom and got out.

"We had to jump out the back window, it was like a 10-inch drop. I grabbed my mom and had to hold her by the arms,' he said. "The drop was intense like 10 feet. I thought I was going to die to be honest with you."

Yan said he also saw a suspect.

"I looked out the peep hole and it looked like a blonde woman," Yan said. "One of the officers said when they just got here that someone was rushing out in blue jeans shorts. With blonde hair and a young face, laughing and running away."

Miami Beach police detectives say interviews with residents of the building led to the identification of Delgado.

"Our team did an excellent job in a very short time to identify and arrest the suspect," Chief Daniel Oates said. "The residents can be reassured that with this person in custody, there is no longer a danger to the community.

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