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Crime & Safety

Man Restrains Woman from Moving In by Burning House Down, Police Say

Ballast Point resident Kent Perusse set a house on fire to prevent a woman from moving in two weeks ago, according to a St. Petersburg Times report.

A Ballast Point resident did not want a woman he was involved with to move in, so Tampa Police said he made an extreme gesture: he burned the house down, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Kent Perusse, 48, set the house he was renting at 5703 S. MacDill Ave. on fire on Dec. 14, police said.

The lawn service self-employed man reportedly told officers at the scene “I did it,” and said his female pit bull was still inside the burning house. The dog did not survive, the Times reports.

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Investigators found that the single-frame house had been doused with an accelerant, according to the Times.

Perusse was treated for smoke inhalation and third-degree burns to his calves at Tampa General Hospital for two weeks.

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Tuesday, Dec. 27, he was booked at the Hillsborough County Jail after being charged with first-degree arson and animal cruelty. Jail records show that he is being held on $55,000 bail.

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