A Pennsylvania man was arrested this week for allegedly attacking a woman and starting a fire that spread to several homes on the block.
Santos Mota-Ramirez, 60, faces several charges, including attempted homicide, aggravated assault, arson causing injury, reckless endangerment, and causing a disaster. The fire occurred on Thursday, December 26, in Allentown, Pennsylvania... Continue reading here ▶
Police were called to the 700 block of Cedar Street in Allentown around 4:30 p.m. on December 26 after reports of a domestic disturbance.
When officers arrived, they found Nohemi Guzman-De Santos with visible redness on her face and neck, according to a police affidavit.
Inside the home, officers encountered Mota-Ramirez coming out of the kitchen, where a fire was already burning behind him. Police detained him, but the fire quickly spread through the house.
Another resident, Niovel Lopez-Gutierrez, was trapped in the basement as the fire engulfed the first floor. Firefighters rescued Lopez-Gutierrez, who was taken to the hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.
The fire spread to six nearby houses, forcing the evacuation of more than 30 people, according to WFMZ. Temperatures dropped below 20°F overnight on December 26.
According to the affidavit, Mota-Ramirez admitted he was trying to stab Nohemi and started the fire.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 3. Mota-Ramirez has not yet entered a plea.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. The service is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in over 170 languages.
