Crime & Safety
Homeless Man Accused Of Setting Fire To Tarpon Springs Businesses
A homeless man has been arrested after being accused of intentionally setting fires that damaged two Tarpon Springs businesses.
TARPON SPRINGS, FL — A homeless man has been arrested after being accused of intentionally setting fires that damaged two Tarpon Springs businesses and an empty storefront.
Tarpon Springs Police responded to 715 Dodecanese Blvd. Wednesday around 5 a.m. to assist the Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue with a suspicious fire.
The structure houses three units that were covered with a fumigation pest control tent. Two units are active businesses and one is vacant. The tent was intentionally set on fire and the businesses sustained smoke damage. An adjacent fence was also damaged.
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As police were investigating, a resident notified them about another fire in the parking
lot of 210 Dodecanese Blvd. Police and fire units responded and found a large wooden chair on fire.
An investigation by detectives led them to Jon Cole Howard, 32, who was arrested on an
unrelated theft charge later in the day and was identified as the person responsible for setting the fires.
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He was charged with arson and criminal mischief, and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
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