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Palm Bay man accused of setting multiple fires admitted to mental health facility

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PALM BAY, Fla. — Palm Bay police arrested a man Wednesday for the alleged burning of multiple areas in the compound section of the city over the past two months.

Police said Stephen Tatro, 47, was followed in the compound section of the city where previous fires had been started. Tatro was seen walking through previously burnt areas near Angora Street, JA Bombardier Boulevard and St. Andre Boulevard, according to the police report.

Police said Tatro drove his pickup truck to the intersection of Sugarloaf Avenue and Dirckson Street, got out of his vehicle and walked toward a wooded area near the intersection.

Authorities said the suspect appeared to bend over and touch the ground then stood up quickly and jogged to another wooded area near the intersection.

By the time Tatro reached the second wooded area, police said a fire and a large amount of smoke were visible from the first area.

After the second area caught fire, police said Tatro drove away in his pickup truck. Officers followed him and attempted a traffic stop, according to the police report.

“While we were out there, our surveillance team was able to observe him going out to several areas where prior fires had been set,” said Cmdr. John Resh of the Palm Bay Police Department.

Police said Tatro accelerated at a high rate of speed. Another patrol car arrived as backup and Tatro stopped his vehicle, exited and lay on the ground, according to the police report.

Officers said Tatro confessed in an audio recording to the two fires Wednesday and the three previous fires in the areas police witnessed him walk through.

Tatro said he started the fires because others had done it and gotten away with it, according to the police report.

Police believe Tatro used a blowtorch that was found in the pickup of his truck to start the fires.

Tatro is charged with fleeing and eluding and willful, malicious, or intentional burning of lands.

His $15,000 bail was posted by his wife, but he was then taken to a mental health facility to be evaluated.

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