By William Thornton
al.com
FLORENCE, Ala. — Florence police say a man assaulted his mother with a hammer Monday night just before barricading himself inside an apartment that he then set on fire.
Sgt. Ryan Kelly said the incident began about 8:30 p.m. when police responded to an apartment complex in the 1900 block of Darby Drive on a domestic violence call.
Malcolm D. Allen, 39, had reportedly assaulted his mother with a hammer. The woman escaped when officers arrived and was transported to North Alabama Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.
Immediately after, Kelly said Allen barricaded himself in the apartment and refused to speak to officers. While attempting to communicate with him, the officers heard a smoke detector and noticed smoke and flames inside the apartment.
Residents of the surrounding apartments were evacuated, and officers were able to pull Allen to safety through a window.
Florence firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, limiting most of the damage to Allen’s apartment.
Allen was arrested for first-degree arson and second-degree domestic violence. He is currently being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center without bond.
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