Crews from St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue, along with officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD), responded to reports of a house fire at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023.
When firefighters arrived, they reported heavy black smoke and flames coming from a home at 2101 30th Avenue North.
An officer from the St. Petersburg Police Department came in contact with a male resident of the home who was acting strangely and armed with an unspecified bladed object. The subject was eventually tased and taken into custody with the assistance of additional arriving officers.
The fire is believed to be suspicious upon further investigation, and an investigation is underway, according to SPPD.
There were no injuries due to the fire.