Man Confesses To North Miami Beach Arson Caught On Camera
NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) - Police on Tuesday released surveillance video of an arson at a home in North Miami Beach showing a man investigators have dubbed a "disgruntled ex-boyfriend" intent on doing damage to his ex-girlfriend's new love interest.
Jeffrey Blanc, 32, is charged with two counts of arson and three counts of criminal mischief stemming from a string of incidents dating as far back as March.
According to investigators, Blanc and his "on and off" girlfriend broke up in 2012, but he tried to rekindle the romance this year through a series of unanswered text messages and phone calls.
Blanc took out his frustrations on his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, police said, by spray painting his home and car back in March and April.
A police report indicated he also spray painted his ex-girlfriend's car in one instance.
On April 30th, Blanc set the new boyfriend's car on fire, police said.
Those incidents were not captured on surveillance camera.
According to a man living at the home in the 15600 block of Northeast 10th Court, the cameras were installed as a result of those crimes.
On June 23, the cameras came in handy, capturing a man dousing two cars in gasoline and setting them on fire.
The cars and carport were damaged, but no one inside the home was hurt.
Investigators said Blanc confessed to the crime after the object of his affections identified him.
"It was all caught on video tape luckily. And the ex-girlfriend, when we reviewed the video tape, said, 'That's my ex-boyfriend'," North Miami Beach Police Services Director Thomas Carney said.
On Tuesday, there was still a red bulls-eye spray painted on the sidewalk, even though the intended target of the crimes has since moved out.
Blanc said he's never been in any legal trouble before.
He told CBS 4's Lauren Pastrana he takes responsibility for his actions and wants to apologize to everyone involved.
He said he's looking forward to putting this behind him.
