Man accused of attempting to burn down shed with someone inside in Immokalee

IMMOKALEE, Fla. —

A man was arrested in Immokalee after being accused of attempting to set an occupied shed on fire.

According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office arrest report, deputies responded to a call for an attempted arson at a residence on Glades Street at around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday.

When deputies arrived, the victim pointed them toward a man standing in the driveway, identified as Julio Cesar Martinez Serna, 29, CCSO said. The victim told deputies that Serna had tried to set his shed on fire.

Deputies noticed red spray paint on Serna's fingers, the report said. The victim told deputies Serna had been staying with him for about a week, but that Serna had started to cause issues and was asked to leave.

The report said that the victim then walked around the back of the residence to find Serna using a can of red spray paint to try to start a fire in the rear shed. The victim said that someone was living in the shed at the time.

The victim then stopped Serna from burning down the shed, the report said. Serna then ran away and jumped over the white fence on the south side of the home.

The witness living inside the shed told deputies she saw a ball of fire come through her window, followed by smoke near the window.

While investigating the shed, deputies found a can of red spray paint on the ground. Additionally, near the fence Serna jumped over, deputies located a yellow-colored lighter, the report said.

Serna was arrested and faces a charge of first-degree arson.

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