Florida

Man Arrested, Charged With Starting Fire at Apartment With Children Inside

A 22-year-old man was arrested Friday night after he set a Riviera Beach apartment on fire with his children inside, police said.

Velmando J. Williams was charged with Attempted Murder, Simple Battery Domestic, and First Degree Arson.

According to WPTV, Riviera Beach Police received an emergency call reporting a domestic dispute at an apartment complex in the 1500 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Riviera Beach Fire Rescue crews, police and concerned residents at the scene were able to safely rescue three children, including an infant, a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, from the apartment.

The children's mother told police that Williams set the apartment on fire during an argument between the two of them. He was arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail.

A State of Florida Fire Marshal confirmed that the fire was an intentional act of arson, and not an accident.

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