SPRING HILL, Fla — The Hernando County Sheriff (HCSO) said a man has been arrested after he lit a house on fire after barricading themselves in the home for several hours in Spring Hill.
The HCSO said they went to the home at the 5000 block of Bromley Avenue in Spring Hill around 1 p.m. Monday after they received reports of a man running in and out of a house and screaming they had bombs.
The man was identified as Leonardo Morales. Sheriff Al Nienhuis said that deputies had been called to this home around 130 times before, and he had significant mental health issues.
Deputies attempted to negotiate with Morales inside the home for several hours. HCSO said that at one point, he came out of the home with what looked like a firearm but quickly went back inside. Around 4 p.m., he ignited the house on fire.
Once the fire started, Morales did come out of the residence and was not injured, Sheriff Nienhuis said.
According to Hernando County Fire Rescue, firefighters quickly got the fire under control, and no other homes in the neighborhood were damaged.
No other injuries were reported.
The home was in foreclosure and belonged to Morales' deceased grandmother, according to officials.
Morales was arrested and charged with arson and is being held without bond in the Hernando County Detention Center.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
