A Central Falls man was arrested Friday on charges he assaulted his girlfriend and set her apartment on fire.
Police and fire personnel responded to 121 Garfield Street at about 8:30 p.m. and arrived to find flames coming from the rear of an apartment on the first floor. Firefighters began battling the fire as the tenants of the six-unit building were evacuated.
While speaking with eyewitnesses on scene, investigators learned the fire was started by the boyfriend of the first floor tenant, identified as Derrick Person.
Police said Person was reportedly in an argument with his girlfriend when he piled up her clothes outside the building and set them on fire. When she confronted him, Person allegedly grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and pushed her to the ground. He then went into the apartment, and a short time later flames began to show from the bedroom area, according to police.