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
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
From the Show Floor: Traka
Join POLICE as we visit with Steve Atkinson of Traka and learn about the company’s asset management cabinets and key lockers.
Read More →
Team Wendy Shares New DREW Data During Personal Armour Systems Symposium
Team Wendy shared data about DREW, a biofidelic helmet-test rig built to simulate real head-to-ground falls and capture both linear and rotational head motion, during the recent Personal Armour Systems Symposium in Belgium.
Read More →
2026 US Police and Fire Championships to Unite First Responders in San Diego for 59th Annual Event
The 2026 US Police and Fire Championships, featuring more than 35 Olympic-style events and new competitions, will return to San Diego, California.
Read More →
FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends to Host Live Audience for National First Responders Day
In honor of National First Responders Day, FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends will host a live audience made up of first responders and their families. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other emergency personnel have been invited to attend the live program.
Read More →
Sponsored•October 27, 2025
How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
Axon Ecosystem Advancements Connect Critical Moments of Public Safety Response
Last week, during IACP 2025, Axon unveiled what it called the next evolution of its connected public safety ecosystem. Key launches included Prepared by Axon, new Axon Assistant and Axon Air Drone as First Responder (DFR) capabilities, and Community Shield and Community Link.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →
Is Your Duty Holster Duty Rated?
The first – and worst – time I had to fight to keep my gun, my holster and duty belt held up far better than my training did.
Read More →
Streamlight Releases the Ultra-Thin Wedge SL
Streamlight has launched the Wedge SL, an ultra-thin, USB-C rechargeable light designed for users who want pocketable power.
Read More →
More IACP 2025 From the Show Floor
Watch expanded coverage of IACP 2025 as the POLICE Magazine team walks the aisles at the expo and shares what we found interesting on display for chiefs from across the country and around the world this week in Denver, Colorado.
Read More →