VIDEO: Officers Rescue Man and Daughter from Fire, Father Charged
Video: Florida Officers Save Girl and Father From House Fire, Father Charged with Arson
Orlando police officers are being hailed as heroes after they pulled a man and his young daughter from a burning home just after 5:00 a.m. But now the father is being charged with arson and attempted murder.
August 20, 2015
1 min to read
A man rescued from an Orlando house fire early Thursday morning has been arrested, reports WOFL.
Robert Merritt, 49, is charged with attempted murder and arson. Investigators said he intentionally set a fire which endangered his 6-year-old daughter.
Orlando police officers are being hailed as heroes after they pulled Merritt and his daughter from the burning home just after 5:00 a.m.
The officers said they arrived within minutes and saw smoke coming from the house and inside the house. They saw the girl standing at the front bedroom window trying to get air from a small opening.
Sgt. Joe Capece and Officer Mike Turner broke the window as Officer Chris Valenti and Officer Russell Sayer pulled the girl from the house. The officers then went into the house and pulled Merritt from the smoke-filled bedroom and dragged him outside.
The officers also located a dog inside the house and pulled it to safety.
The Orlando Fire Department arrived and put out the house fire. Merritt was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition. The soot-covered child was transported to Florida Hospital South in stable condition.
More Patrol
Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025
What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →
Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →
10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →