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Phoenix police arrest two after they set fire near a home

Posted at 12:27 PM, Oct 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-12 15:41:04-04

Police have arrested two suspects in a West Phoenix arson case.

Court records show that on October 9 around 6:30 a.m., police evacuated a home because of a fire on the fence extending to the house. They then proceeded to put out the fire. 

Police officers report that they saw a "large black cloud" near 85th Avenue and Indian School Road. When they arrived, they saw a 10-foot section of fence was on fire with flames extending about 20 feet high. The officers say the winds were pushing the flames toward the house.

After asking for fire assistance and more officers, the two officers evacuated the family of five. The family was sleeping at the time and was unaware of the fire.

Once the family was safe outside, the officers sprayed the fire with hoses until the fire department arrived.

The homeowner showed police his security camera footage which allegedly showed his neighbor, 20-year-old Saul Hermosillo and a woman identified as 19-year-old Alexis Prunty, walking alongside the fence. 

They left after a couch up against the fence was ignited.

Police made contact with Hermosillo who denied starting the fire but said he didn't stop Prunty from starting it.

Prunty reportedly admitted to police that she lit a wad of paper on fire and put it on the couch before going inside to go to sleep.

Both Hermosillo and Prunty are being charged with arson of an occupied structure and endangerment.