Apopka Man Arrested for Allegedly Setting Fire to Shed While Trapped Inside, Police Report

APOPKA, Fla. – A local man has been arrested following accusations of setting a fire in a shed while still inside it, according to Apopka police.

Authorities have charged 43-year-old Richard Snow with first-degree arson, assaulting law enforcement, battery with a prior conviction, tampering with a witness or victim, and resisting an officer without violence. These details were shared by the Apopka Police Department on social media on Saturday.

Police were initially called to the scene in response to a reported altercation at a home, where Snow allegedly shoved a woman and threatened her life if she contacted authorities. Upon arrival, officers found Snow in a backyard shed that had been turned into a living space, which he shared with a roommate.

Snow reportedly ignored police orders to exit the shed and is accused of deliberately setting it ablaze. He eventually escaped through a window as the fire consumed the structure, leading to his arrest.

Thankfully, there were no serious injuries reported. However, nearby residents had to be roused from sleep and evacuated from their homes as a precaution against the spreading fire.