A woman was able to escape an attack by her ex-boyfriend and the Tempe apartment he set on fire.
Tempe police report that on August 19 they received a call from a resident of an apartment complex, near McClintock and University drives.
When police arrived, they smelled smoke, heard a fire alarm and a woman screaming as she escaped an apartment unit engulfed in flames.
The woman told police that her ex-boyfriend, 38-year-old Micheo Deangelo Cooper came home for the first time after she broke off their relationship two days prior.
After a long argument, Cooper reportedly broke into her bedroom breaking the door and allegedly shoving her against a wall.
Cooper allegedly threatened to kill her and burn her belongings while flicking a red lighter on and off.
The woman locked herself in the bathroom to get away from Cooper and came out when she thought it was safe. Upon exiting the bathroom she saw her closet on fire, blocking her exit from the apartment. She managed to get around the flames and make it outside to the responding officers.
The woman was taken to a hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Cooper was located that afternoon in a restaurant parking lot about 7 miles away. Police say he denied the threats and setting anything on fire. Police say the lighter the victim described was found in his possession.
He's been charged with aggravated assault, arson of an occupied structure and various other charges.
