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A 22-year-old Kent resident has been arrested after attempting to start an apartment fire with his girlfriend still inside.

Police received a 9-1-1 call on March 9 from a 19-year-old woman who reported that more than $2,000 worth of her “belongings had been damaged by her boyfriend,” the Kent Police Department (KPD) said in a release. They say the suspect fled the scene before police arrived and, ten days later, the victim called the detective handling her case to report an assault.

The victim said that her boyfriend attempted to start a fire inside the apartment they shared, while she hid in a balcony closet.

According to KPD, “the suspect turned on all the stove burners, put flammable items on them, then fled. The victim was able to put out the fire before it spread.”

‘One of the most severe instances of domestic violence’

Police discovered that the fire was just one of numerous instances of alleged domestic abuse that took place over the year. A King County prosecutor said the case is “one of the most severe instances of domestic violence she has encountered in her career.”

Police say that the victim suffered repeated abuse, some of which occurred while she was pregnant with their baby.

“This case underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and highlights the importance of thorough investigations and multi-agency cooperation in bringing offenders to justice,” said Kent Investigations Commander C. Mills. “The Kent Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to protect survivors, ensure they are heard, and hold perpetrators accountable. Domestic violence is a crime that thrives in silence, and law enforcement stands with victims to break that silence and seek justice.”

On March 26, the suspect was booked into King County Jail for one count of arson, two counts of second-degree assault, and four other counts for third-degree and fourth-degree assault.