HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A man is in police custody after allegedly setting a fire inside a home that he had barricaded himself inside of.
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It happened during the early morning hours on Wednesday along the 5200 block of Wiley Street in Hollywood.
Authorities have since identified the suspect as Kevin Lamar Bryant, 38.
According to Hollywood police, officers responded to the home around 1:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance involving a man.
When they arrived, officers said Bryant barricaded himself inside, and then around 4 a.m. intentionally set a fire inside the home.
Crews with Hollywood Fire Rescue quickly responded and were able to extinguish the fire, which they said caused significant damage to the home which had previously been condemned.
Juan Benitez, who lives next door, said it was police officers banging on his door that woke him up and helped him to safety.
“They said, ‘Get out of the house, the house is on fire,’” Benitez said. “It’s like something out of a movie, it’s unrealistic. First time something like that has ever happened to me.”
Police said they were then able to remove Bryant from the engulfed home before taking him custody without further incident.
“He was just yelling nonsense,” said Benitez. “I couldn’t understand.”
According to HFR, Bryant suffers from severe mental illness and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
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