MIAMI (WSVN) - Police have arrested a Miami man who they say willfully and maliciously set his former business partner’s vehicle on fire.
Lorenzo Jimenez, 53, worked as a partner in the victim’s construction company, according to the arrest report.
Cellphone video taken from across the street showed the vehicle engulfed in flames.
“So, my first concern is that it was gonna explode when we did see somebody actually setting the car on fire,” a neighbor said, “and to know that the neighbors recognized them, I mean … and this is a good neighborhood, so it’s scary.”
“We were amazed that this even happened in our neighborhood,” another neighbor said.
Josue Gonzalez, the victim, stated he terminated the partnership around the end of their contract’s term after he was not satisfied with Jimenez’s performance.
He believed they ended the partnership on amicable terms until Friday, when the victim’s cousin said he saw Jimenez’s car parked around the corner from the victim’s house.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the victim woke up to find his work truck, which was parked on his driveway and full of construction equipment, on fire.
“The neighbor said there was a fire, and I got them out to save my family first,” Gonzalez said.
The flames spread to his wife’s vehicle and scorched part of the garage as well.
Surveillance cameras from a neighbor captured a man near the victim’s truck before and after the fire broke out. Moments later, Lorenzo’s truck could be seen fleeing from the area.
Jimenez was arrested on Tuesday and charged with first and second-degree arson.
Although he posted bond, he remains behind bars because of an immigration hold.
The truck was ruled a total loss.
No injuries were reported.
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