Man Arrested for Crashing Car into Burning House

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested William Combs, 45, 2022 Lee Lane, Sarasota, in connection with a bizarre Christmas Eve arson case.

The victim, Combs’ ex-girlfriend, arrived at her father’s home in the 8300 block of Morgan Drive in Sarasota just before 1 a.m., and saw heavy smoke coming from the carport, the sheriff’s office said.

As she ran to the house to help her father escape the flames, the victim heard a loud noise and realized a car was racing toward the home. The vehicle crashed into the home and came to rest about 10 feet inside the structure, the sheriff’s office said. Combs was able to get out of the vehicle but was unresponsive when emergency crews arrived.

The Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted a joint investigation, and Combs was arrested Friday upon his release from Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

On the first two counts, Crimes Against Persons for Committing Specific Felony Acts that Could Cause Death, Combs is being held without bond. Additional charges of one count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, two counts of Arson and two counts of 2nd Degree Arson carry a combined $180,000 bond.