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Posted on Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.

Man set fire to Ypsilanti Township home while three people were inside, prosecutors say

By Lee Higgins

A man is accused of setting fire to a woman’s home in Ypsilanti Township on April 10 while she was inside with two of her children because he was upset she broke off a relationship with him, Washtenaw County prosecutors said.

Akil Azim Alexander, 28, of Dearborn Heights, was arraigned this afternoon at the county jail on a charge of arson of a dwelling.

AkilAlexander.jpg

Akil Alexander

Fortunately, the victims were "able to escape without being harmed," county Assistant Prosecutor Arianne Slay said in court.

According to Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Derrick Jackson, deputies responded to the home on Maplelawn Drive at about 1:30 a.m. April 10 after receiving a report of a loud explosion. A small portion of the exterior of the home had been set on fire, he said. The residents were evacuated.

Ypsilanti Township firefighters extinguished the blaze roughly 10 minutes after arriving on scene, township fire Capt. Larry James said. The fire caused thousands of dollars in damage, he said, adding that the damaged area of the home smelled of gasoline.

At the arraignment, Slay asked for a $250,000 bond.

Alexander told Magistrate Thomas Truesdell that he is a married father of two young children and works at a tire company in Detroit, making $500 a week. He has two convictions for larceny, he said. Alexander asked that a public defender be appointed for him.

Truesdell said he would appoint a public defender and set bond at $50,000 cash or surety. He ordered that Alexander have no contact with the victim.

If convicted of the felony charge, Alexander faces up to 20 years in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 4.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.

Comments

Time Out

Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.

This appears an unfortunate case for the woman, however, the language of this article suggests that all of the above comments are merely accusations (1st sentence of the article states: "A man is accused of...") and a single-sided testimony (given from the prosecutor's (woman's) account). Thus, this man has not had a chance to defend himself yet. I have learned over the years to not believe everything I hear in the News or on TV right away until I do my own investigation or until the other side of the story surfaces. I'm not discrediting Ann Arbor news as a source, I love the Ann Arbor news. I'm just pointing out the facts in the above article. In light of this, I am in no position to make judgements about this man nor his family status. My prayers go out to both parties involved.

YpsiLivin

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 1:51 a.m.

This individual was willing to (and attempted to) kill three people, two of whom were children. Why did the judge even consider granting bond in this case?

RJA

Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 11:40 p.m.

OMG, this makes a woman afraid to break-up a relationship in today's world. There are always reasons for break-ups. (sometimes excuses). If there are domestic times, abuse to children times, always make police reports. Do your home-work, prepare for the final break-up. My thoughts go out to the mother and children. NO thoughts here for the man, other than question him being married and the father of 2 children?

M.

Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:02 p.m.

FYI DDOT, men are statistically very less likely to report such abuse at the hands of a woman. It's pretty well known that most male victims of domestic abuse do not report it.

Time Out

Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.

Yes, this appears an unfortunate case for the woman, however, the language of this article suggests that all of the above comments are merely accusations (1st sentence of the article states: "A man is accused of...") and a single-sided testimony (given from the prosecutor's (woman's) account). Thus, this man has not had a chance to defend himself yet. I have learned over the years to not believe everything I hear in the News or on TV right away until I do my own investigation or until the other side of the story surfaces. I'm not discrediting Ann Arbor news as a source, I love the Ann Arbor news. I'm just pointing out the facts in the above article. In light of this, I am in no position to make judgements about this man nor his family status. My prayers go out to both parties involved.

DDOT1962

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:36 p.m.

Sorry ronaldduck, but for every instance of domestic violence committed by a woman, there's about one thousand committed by men. When's the last time you read a story of a wife shooting her children, her ex and then herself? Seems like you can find that story about a husband almost daily in this country.

ronaldduck

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 10:57 a.m.

This could have just as easily have been a woman setting fire to the home of an ex-boyfriend. Remember domestic violence goes both ways.