Man allegedly burned home over water bill

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 11 (UPI) -- Police in Florida said a man who was angry about the size of his water bills found a way to stop the bills entirely -- he blew up his mobile home.

Investigators quoted witnesses as saying Johnny Dossey, 43, coated his Fort Lauderdale mobile home in gasoline Wednesday and the residence exploded only moments after he ignited the flames, the Miami Herald reported Thursday.

Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue spokesman Matt Little said firefighters arrived at about 12:30 p.m. and found the home engulfed in flames. He said Dossey's home was destroyed but no neighboring structures were damaged.

Dossey was arrested and charged with arson of a structure. Police said he may have been intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Neighbor Luis Alvarez, 43, said Dossey was arguing with his father about the size of his $70 water bill prior to setting fire to the home.

"I guess he got fed up with it," Alvarez said, "and that's the only way he saw out of it."