Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office declined to pursue charges in this case.
A 52-year-old man was arrested in connection with small fires while walking a dog in North Miami Beach, but prosecutors later declined to pursue the case. Larry Michael Baum was initially booked on multiple counts of second-degree arson and criminal mischief according to county arrest records, but the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office subsequently filed a "No Action Memorandum" indicating no further legal action would be taken. Neighbors reported only minor damage from the incidents.
Camera shows suspect pause near shrubs
According to NBC 6 South Florida, surveillance video showed a man walking a dog along Northeast 22nd Avenue who stopped outside a residence. The station reported that police had been investigating multiple incidents at that address, with encounters recorded on different dates. NBC 6 noted that only minor damage was reported from the incidents.
Officers made arrest but charges were not pursued
The April 13 incident, as reported by NBC 6, began when a homeowner reported seeing a man near the property. Officers later located and arrested Baum. Miami-Dade jail records quoted by NBC 6 indicated officers found him "with a cigar, a lighter and the dog." However, the State Attorney's Office later determined not to pursue prosecution.
Small blazes have shown up across the county
Incidents involving small fires have been reported around South Florida this spring. Coverage of a separate string of trash-can fires along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach has highlighted how hotel and street cameras, along with flyers circulated by police, have become crucial tools in those investigations. WSVN reports that investigators relied on surveillance footage and community tips while tracking that suspect.
Legal context and case resolution
Second-degree arson charges under state law apply when a person is accused of willfully setting fire to property outside the specific conditions that define first-degree arson. As outlined by the Florida Statutes, second-degree arson is a felony governed by the state's sentencing provisions. However, in this case, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office filed a "No Action Memorandum" declining to pursue prosecution.
Anyone with video or other information about incidents in the area is urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade. The county tip line is posted on the organization's website, and Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade provides local tip numbers and an online form for people who want to submit footage or leads anonymously.
