Man Takes Swing At Reporter After Questions Of Looting Arise
Posted: 1:06 pm EST November 26, 2007Updated: 1:21 pm EST November 26, 2007
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A small fire started by a candle destroyed a home in the 200 block of North Street in Winter Garden, early Monday morning. Hours later, police said a man came by and picked through the debris to try and steal what he could salvage.
RELATED ARTICLEWoman Leaves Candle Burning, Escapes Home During Fire
Monday afternoon, police were trying to find the man they believe tried to steal window frames for money. It's one of the few things that made it through the fire okay. The homeowner was using a candle for light, but it was too close to a mattress in her bedroom.The Bennett family didn't have much time to react when the home next door caught fire around 3:00am."Two police officers came to the window and they said there was a fire next door. As soon as we ran out the door the house went up in flames," said Desmond Bennett, a neighbor.Roxana Faison, the homeowner, escaped, but sat inside a police squad car and watched the inside of her home burn."The windows came out and all the windows came out on the left side of the house," said Faison.Investigators said Faison was using a candle as a nightlight. She was watching TV and noticed a bright orange glow coming from a back room."It had consumed the contents of two rooms and there was extensive smoke damage throughout the house," said Chief John Williamson, II of the Winter Garden Fire Department.Faison walks with a cane. And even as frantic as she was, investigators said she was able to make it to a neighbor's home to call 911.Most all of Faison's belongings were charred in the fire. But long after police and fire crews left, Channel 9 noticed a man loading up his shopping cart with a few window frames that were still in tact.He told neighbors he knew Faison and had plans to return the frames later in the day. When Channel 9 asked him what he was doing, he got angry and took a swing at our reporter.Eyewitness News showed investigators the video. They said the same man is known for going through garbage around town to find aluminum, copper, and other recyclables to turn it in for cash.When police do find him, it will be up to the homeowner to press charges.
RELATED ARTICLEWoman Leaves Candle Burning, Escapes Home During Fire Monday afternoon, police were trying to find the man they believe tried to steal window frames for money. It's one of the few things that made it through the fire okay. The homeowner was using a candle for light, but it was too close to a mattress in her bedroom.The Bennett family didn't have much time to react when the home next door caught fire around 3:00am."Two police officers came to the window and they said there was a fire next door. As soon as we ran out the door the house went up in flames," said Desmond Bennett, a neighbor.Roxana Faison, the homeowner, escaped, but sat inside a police squad car and watched the inside of her home burn."The windows came out and all the windows came out on the left side of the house," said Faison.Investigators said Faison was using a candle as a nightlight. She was watching TV and noticed a bright orange glow coming from a back room."It had consumed the contents of two rooms and there was extensive smoke damage throughout the house," said Chief John Williamson, II of the Winter Garden Fire Department.Faison walks with a cane. And even as frantic as she was, investigators said she was able to make it to a neighbor's home to call 911.Most all of Faison's belongings were charred in the fire. But long after police and fire crews left, Channel 9 noticed a man loading up his shopping cart with a few window frames that were still in tact.He told neighbors he knew Faison and had plans to return the frames later in the day. When Channel 9 asked him what he was doing, he got angry and took a swing at our reporter.Eyewitness News showed investigators the video. They said the same man is known for going through garbage around town to find aluminum, copper, and other recyclables to turn it in for cash.When police do find him, it will be up to the homeowner to press charges.
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