Police: Tenant sets landlord on fire

HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A man returned to his Holland Township residence and turned himself in to police after allegedly setting his landlord on fire earlier in the day.

Kim Le, 53, was burned "rather severely" and taken to a hospital for treatment to non-life threatening injuries.

24 Hour News 8 was there when Davanh Phouangphet was taken into custody for further questioning.

Lt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department told 24 Hour News 8 the incident began as a domestic dispute just before 11 a.m. Monday.

The suspect's brother, Thong Phouangphet, said the dispute -- between Davanh and the woman -- was about loud music that was playing inside the home.

It then "escalated into an assault," Lt. Bennett says, and Davanh Phouangphet allegedly "threw an accelerant on the victim, and the victim was set on fire."

Police were searching for the suspect and his vehicle. Then about an hour later as firefighters were investigating at the scene in the 2500 block of W. Pine Lane, the man returned and surrendered. He parked his car a distance away and walked back to the house.

Thong Phouangphet also lives at the house. He told 24 Hour News 8 they call their landlady "mom" and that she is a "really nice lady."

"He got into argument with Mom," he said. "I told him do not argue with her, just move downstairs. She is the owner of the house and she has got a right." He added, "We respect her a lot and she respects us like a son, so we rent a room from her and she is really a nice lady."

His brother said Davanh has a long history of mental illness and has had other violent outbursts in his past.

Davanh Phouangphet was arraigned on Tuesday on one count of assault with intent to murder. His bond was set at $750,000 bond.

Phounangphet's preliminary exam is scheduled for Jan. 31.

The victim was still unable to communicate with investigators as of Tuesday due to her injuries.