VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida – An Edgewater man has been arrested after investigators say he intentionally set fire to a trailer at a mobile home park because he believed residents wanted it removed.
According to the Edgewater Police Department, Edgewater Fire-Rescue responded to a trailer fire at the Wolf’s-Driftwood Mobile Home Park at approximately 11:30 p.m. on May 27.
After firefighters extinguished the blaze, investigators from the police department’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives responded to the scene and determined the fire appeared to have been intentionally set.
During the investigation, detectives obtained surveillance footage from a nearby residence that allegedly captured the suspect starting the fire.
Through investigative efforts, detectives identified the suspect as Dean Settle, a resident of the mobile home park.
When questioned by detectives and shown the surveillance video, Settle reportedly acknowledged that he was the individual seen in the footage, stating, “There’s no denying that’s me.”
According to investigators, Settle told detectives he set the fire because the trailer was abandoned and everyone in the park “wanted it gone.”
Settle was arrested and charged with first-degree arson.
The case was investigated by Detective Mangar of the department’s Criminal Investigations Unit.