PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are seeking the public’s help in locating the man who, they said, broke into a chiropractor’s office in Pembroke Pines and set fire to it.
Grainy surveillance video captured the subject walking toward the Oceans Breeze Chiromed LLC, a clinic located in a shopping plaza at the corner of University Drive and Pines Boulevard, early Friday morning.
The security footage shows the perpetrator smashing the glass door and ducking into the clinic. Less than 10 seconds later, a flash is seen, followed by smoke billowing out of the entrance door and what appears to be flames inside the office.
The subject is then seen running toward a waiting car and taking off.
“Well, this was an arson. It wasn’t just a regular fire,” said Rob Apakian with Dolphin Carpet and Tile, located right next door to Oceans Breeze.
Pembroke Pines Police said they received a call about the fire just before 4 a.m.
Firefighters were able to put out the blaze before it could spread to other businesses in the strip mall.
Apakian said he came to work to find own shop reeking of smoke.
“My warehouse guy actually saw it first, and then he called me,” he said.
A few doors down, at Islands in the Pines Restaurant, customers and employees alike were surprised to find out about the fire.
“I said, ‘That’s very scary,'” said customer Lloyd Stewart. “You know, that’s very worrisome.”
“It’s so disgusting. It’s so terrible,” said employee Marvel Williams. “When I was coming in to work, I was so scared.”
Investigators initially thought an electrical problem caused the fire, but after seeing the surveillance video, it’s clear arson is their focus.
“It could have burned the whole neighborhood down here,” said Apakian.
If you have any information on this arson case, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.