Retired officer helps catch alleged Palm Bay arsonist minutes after blaze, police say

PALM PAY. Fla. — The quick-thinking of a retired police officer helped police track down an arson suspect accused of setting two blazes minutes apart.

Police said Mathew Milton set the two fires Saturday in an area of southwest Palm Bay where many homes are surrounding by woods.

Anytime there’s a fire in that area, it’s a concern for residents.

“I just came outside and saw the trees and everything had just burst into flames. I grabbed my dad and everyone. We had to run out. It was scary,” said resident Kinley Louissaint.

He said a fire burned near his home a couple months ago, and he wasn’t happy to hear two set near his home this weekend were allegedly set intentionally.

“There (are) a lot of houses just east of Bayside High School. Just east, so if that fire went out of control, we could have lost houses,” said Lt. Mike Bandish of the Palm Bay Police Department.

Police said a retired officer from the West Melbourne Police Department saw Milton at the scene of the second fire and was able to get part of his license plate.

Milton allegedly old the retired officer, “It’s going to spread fast,” before he drove away.

An officer caught up with him a few blocks away and said Milton appeared intoxicated, had soot on one of his fingers and fresh burn marks on his shirt.

Police said he first told the officer he had just arrived in the area, but later admitted he used fireworks to start the blazes.

Louissaint is glad Milton was caught. He said he doesn’t ever want to see the devastation he saw in the Mother’s Day fires of 2008, where more than 30 homes were lost.

“That’s just crazy. That’s just inhumane. I don’t know why somebody would do that. That’s someone’s life that could be at risk,” he said.

Police said they believe it was the first time Milton had committed arson and are glad they caught him early before his behavior could escalate.

Milton was arrested on arson and DUI charges.

Cox Media Group