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Fires reported in Punta Gorda, one suspect in police custody

By on January 11, 2016
Fires reported in Punta Gorda

Fires reported in Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda, TOLEDO. Monday, January 11, 2016. TNC: Authorities in Punta Gorda town, Toledo, are investigating a series of fires early on Sunday morning, January 10, in that municipality.

The first was reported around 1:30 am.

Police say they responded to reports of a vehicle fire on Cayetano Street.

When they arrived, personnel from the National Fire Service were in the process of putting out the blaze which was consuming a pickup truck.

The owner of the vehicle told police that she secured the vehicle in her yard on Saturday night and went to sleep.

Around 1:20 am on Sunday she was alerted that the vehicle was on fire.

About an hour later, emergency officials responded to another fire, this time a house fire.

The owner of the house, 63 year old Victor Caliz told authorities that around 2:30 am on Sunday, his granddaughter alerted him that someone was heard walking in the yard.

When Caliz got up to make checks, he says that he noticed that a wicker chair that was on the front verandah of his house was on fire.

About half an hour later on Sunday morning, police and fire officials responded to yet another fire on Alejandro Vernon Street.

Fire officials worked quickly to put out the blaze which was burning in the roof of a building that housed a restaurant and bar.

The proprietor of the establishment, 60 year old Ignatius Longville, told police that he had gone to bed earlier in the night but was awaken by the smell of smoke.

When he came outside to investigate, he noticed the roof of the building was engulfed in flames.

And while fire officials were putting out the blaze at the restaurant and bar, they were alerted of a fourth incident which was nearby.

Authorities observed flames coming from behind the building and soon found that an SUV was engulfed in flames.

Fire officials immediately extinguished the fire; but not before the vehicle was gutted.

The owner of the vehicle, 54 year old Elizabeth Kearns, told police that she parked her vehicle in her yard directly in front of her house and made sure it was secured.

She was awaken by the sound of sirens and dogs barking when she saw that her vehicle was on fire.

Police have since arrested 22 year old Kaleem Chun and he is expected to be charged for the crime of arson on Tuesday, January 11.

Preliminary indications are that Chun was under the influence of alcohol when the allegedly started the series of fires following a misunderstanding he reportedly had while at a nightclub in the town.

 

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