Man arrested in connection with Taylorsville apartment fire


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TAYLORSVILLE — A 28-year-old man was arrested following a fire at an apartment complex Sunday.

Raymond Gonzalez-Florentino, of Salt Lake City, was arrested for investigation of reckless endangerment and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

The incident started Sunday night in a unit of the Callaway Apartments, 1185 W. Clubhouse Drive (3990 South). A neighbor smelled smoke and went to investigate where it was coming from.

The Unified Fire Authority was called and crews found a small fire on a stove that produced a "heavy cloud of smoke," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. Inside the same apartment, firefighters found Gonzalez "locked in the bathroom, holding his small child," the report stated.

The bathtub was filled with water and Gonzalez had a "large kitchen knife" by his feet, according to the report. Gonzalez claimed he was protecting his child with a wet towel.

As investigators talked with him, Gonzalez made statements "that did not add up," the jail report stated. He claimed five other people were involved and "trying to get him in trouble," according to Unified police. Gonzalez then pointed to several elderly people and claimed they were trying to take his children.

"He made statements that did not seem to be reality," the officer wrote in the jail report.

Mike Radice/KSL-TV

Gonzalez's wife, who is separated from her husband, was outside in the parking lot in her car, when another tenant told her that her apartment was on fire. She told investigators that earlier in the day her estranged husband "had made threats...of wanting to damage the apartment with a knife," according to the jail report.

According to Utah State Court records, Gonzalez was charged in Taylorsville Justice Court in March with assault and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child. A warrant for his arrest was issued June 30 for failure to appear in court.

Gonzalez, his young daughter, and the neighbor were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

The fire was the second at the apartment complex in a week. Police said three juveniles — a 10-year-old boy and two girls ages 11 and 8 — intentionally tried to light a tree on fire with lighter fluid and matches. The tree fire spread to part of the attic of one of the apartment buildings. Damage was estimated at $250,000.

Two of the young suspects were booked into juvenile detention. Officials say Sunday's fire and last week's fire were not related.

Contributing: Sandra Yi

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