Tampa, Florida -  Tampa police arrest a homeless man when he tried to set the back door of a restaurant in Ybor City on fire.  Around 3 a.m., the employees were cleaning inside the Greek Tavern Acropolis when they smelled smoke. The owner went out back to investigate.

Alton Lee Beasley was arrested with arson as he was reportedly caught in the act of setting at the Greek Tavern Acropolis, 1833 East 7th Avenue in Ybor City on fire.

The owner saw Beasley trying to set fire to the outside of the back door of the business. The employee extinguished the small fire with a bucket of water and held Beasley for police. Beasley had no clothes on.  Police called a fire investigator to the scene.

It appears that Beasley lit some cardboard on fire and was holding the burning cardboard against the door. The door was singed, property damages are minimal.

According to reports,  Beasley had gone into the Greek Tavern Acropolis for the past several days looking for food and other hand outs. Each time he was told to leave.

 Beasley was charged with arson in the first degree and transported to the Orient Road Jail.

At this time there is nothing that links this arson with the five alarm fire a few blocks away on November 26, 2006.

Investigation continues.

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