A man has been charged with attempted murder, arson and animal cruelty after allegedly setting fire to a Lake Alfred home

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a family disturbance at Sunset Circle Lake in Lake Alfred. Suspect, Ronald Beasley Jr. (35 years old), set fire to the residence and fled the scene. Upon arrival, patrol officers observed a large amount of smoke coming from the apartment.

They immediately established a perimeter, evacuated neighboring houses and made sure to evacuate all residents of the burning house. The services tried to put out the fire using fire extinguishers, but it was too large to control. The Polk County Fire Department arrived shortly thereafter and battled the flame, which was eventually extinguished, causing extensive damage to the home.

PCSO detectives attended the scene to begin an investigation. The victim told detectives that she and Beasley Jr. they had an argument over his drug addiction. A 4-month-old child and a cat were in the apartment during the incident. The victim locked herself in the bathroom with the child in an attempt to escape an argument with Beasley Jr. He broke into the bathroom and fled outside when the victim threatened to call 911. The victim locked the front door to prevent the suspect from re-entering the home. The victim heard a loud bang coming from outside, and a witness observed the apartment on fire and shouted for the victim to leave the apartment. A witness/neighbor stated that he saw the suspect leaving the backyard of the residence and stated that “you need to get the baby out of the house because I just set him on fire.” The victim managed to escape from home with the child. The cat did not escape, and after the fire was extinguished, it was found dead inside. Beasley Jr. he was located a few streets away from the house and immediately arrested.

“The actions of this violent suspect placed innocent lives in grave danger and we are grateful that the victims escaped unharmed. Setting fire to a house containing a child and a pet is not only reckless, but also shows a complete disregard for life. We are committed to seeking justice for the victims and ensuring that the suspect is held fully accountable for his actions.” – Grady Judd, sheriff

Ronald Beasley Jr. he was charged with attempted first-degree murder (F1), animal cruelty (M1), false imprisonment (F3), and witness tampering (F2). The Commander of the State Fire Service also charged him with first-degree arson (F1). Their investigation is still ongoing.

Ronald Beasley Jr. He was previously convicted of possession of methamphetamine, battery, throwing a deadly missile into a vehicle and domestic violence.