A Pasco County deputy's home has been targeted in an arson attack, according to a report from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco released more information on the attack at a 12:30 p.m. news conference Thursday. Daniel Thomas Hall Jr., 30, of Hudson was arrested and now faces two felony charges: burglary of an occupied dwelling and arson of an occupied dwelling.
Nocco said about 2:30 am, Thursday Hall got into an argument with his sister. She told him to go to bed, but he refused.
Hall told her he was on a mission to get arrested, Nocco said. Hall left their house and started trying to find an unlocked cars in the neighborhood.
Nocco said deputies were told shortly after Hall found a Pasco County sheriff’s patrol cart sitting in a driveway, he put his hands on the window of the car.
The patrol car is assigned to Deputy Ryan Lennox and K9 Jango. who live at the residence.
The sheriff's office arrest report states Hall knowingly entered the front porch of Deputy Lennox’s home without permission and with the intention to commit a crime. Once inside the front porch Hall used a lighter to set fire to a lawn chair on the porch. Hall stated “It wasn’t nobody else but me. I’m the one did it.”
Hall knocked on the deputy’s door and rang the doorbell. Deputy Lennox came to the door with a gun, his K9 Jango and his personal dog.
Hall told the deputy his lawn chair was on fire. Deputy Lennox knew something was up so he called backup, the report states. Deputy Lennox kept the suspect in his sight until backup arrived. Hall was arrested soon after.
No injuries were reported.
ABC Action News is not releasing the deputy's home address out of an abundance of caution for the deputy's safety moving forward.
