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Neighbors Dispute Over Money Escalates To Arson, Police Say

COCONUT GROVE (CBS4) – A weekend dispute among neighbors caused an apartment building's evacuation, several damaged units and left residents of a Coconut Grove neighborhood shaken up.

Now, police say it was all over $5.

A man who borrowed $5 from his neighbor ended up behind bars after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail into his apartment after the neighbor tried to get his money back.

Police say 38-year-old Oscar Cairo asked his neighbor, Dominique Hunt, for some money Sunday morning. Hunt allowed Cairo to borrow $5 from him.

Cairo told Hunt he would repay him later in the day, according to the police report.

Hours later, Hunt saw Cairo counting money and Hunt allegedly went up to him and asked him to repay him. When Cairo refused to pay him back, Hunt "snatched the defendant's money out of his hand," police wrote in their report.

The dispute led to serious consequences when Cairo returned to Hunt's apartment on Southwest 3300 block of Grand Avenue and demanded money from those living inside. Cairo then allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail inside the apartment causing fire and smoke damage.

The fire caused damage to several units. Hunt received a minor injury as a result of the blaze. Police said he sustained a small bruise to his face.

Cairo, charged with four counts of attempted murder, arson, aggravated battery and throwing a deadly missile, faced a bond court judge Monday who ordered him held on $50,000 bond.

Cairo refused to give police a statement.

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