A Redlands man was taken into custody Friday night, Dec. 19, after authorities said he assaulted his girlfriend and intentionally set fire to their home, resulting in the deaths of several animals.
Firefighters were dispatched around 8 p.m. to the 800 block of Occidental Drive, where crews encountered heavy fire conditions inside the living room of a single-story home, according to the Redlands Police Department.
The woman inside was able to escape the residence before crews arrived. She was not injured, police said, but three cats and one dog were later discovered dead inside the home.
Fire crews were able to quickly contain the blaze, stopping it from spreading beyond the front of the house. The fire was brought under control within approximately 15 minutes.
Police identified the suspect as Ryan Winston Stewart, who they said fled the scene through a nearby alley but was later located and arrested. He was booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on suspicion of domestic violence, arson and animal cruelty, and was being held on $80,000 bail.
The American Red Cross responded to assist the woman with emergency shelter and support services.
