PORT SAINT JOHN, Florida – A Florida man was arrested for allegedly setting his car on fire for the insurance money which also started a 300-acre bush fire in Port Saint John, Florida.

The brushfire threatened nearby residences, a horse rescue, and students, teachers, and staff at Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School could not be released at the end of the school day for their safety.

Port Saint John brush fire April 17, 2019.

On April 17, 2019, the Brevard County Fire Department requested the assistance of the Florida State Division of Investigative and Forensic Services for the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives for a vehicle fire on an access road just off Golfview Avenue between Flora Vista Place and Fay Drive in Port Saint John, Florida.

When the state investigator arrived, the Brevard County Fire Department was still actively fighting the fire due to the vehicle fire causing the nearby woodlands to catch fire.

Investigators were able to determine that the burned 2012 Mazda 3 belonged to 41-year-old Roger Duane Garrett of Titusville, Florida.

Roger Garrett

While investigators were on the scene, Garrett contacted the Brevard County Sherriff’s Office to report that his vehicle was stolen.

Garrett told BCSO that the last time he saw his vehicle was the night before at approximately 11 p.m. when it was parked in his driveway.

Garrett added that the keys were in the vehicle but that he did not give anyone permission to take his vehicle.

On April 18, 2019, BCSO and state investigators went to Garrett’s residence.

Garrett told investigators that he was current on his vehicle payments but that he was not currently working and had been using his 401K account for money and that he was struggling financially.

When investigators asked Garrett about the people he associated with, the Florida man said that he liked to hang out with prostitutes.

Garrett told investigators that a woman named “Lanna,” who was later identified as Alanna Spangler, had stayed the night and had just left before the investigators arrived.

On April 19, 2019, investigators received information that Spangler had posted a photo of a blue Mazda hatchback on her Snapchat account with a caption “I’m about to burn this bitch down.”

Investigators also received information that Spangler was bragging about burning the vehicle for the insurance money.

On May 2, 2019, investigators met with Garrett’s father who stated that his son does have problems with prostitutes.

Later that same day, investigators met with Spangler. She told investigators that she knew Garrett had burned his vehicle because he had told her he did it.

Spangler added that Garrett had wanted to burn his vehicle for the insurance money and that he said he had full coverage on the vehicle.

Investigators were able to later obtain videos and photos posted to Spangler’s Snapchat account.

A series of videos which show a vehicle pushing Garrett’s vehicle were posted starting at 5:28 a.m. on April 17, 2019.

The video is being taken from the perspective of a person driving the vehicle pushing Garrett’s vehicle.

At 5:30 a.m., a series of photographs of Garrett’s vehicle fully engulfed in flames were posted on Spangler’s Snapchat account.

Investigators estimate that the value of the vehicle was approximately $5,000.

Investigators say that the first responder labor costs to battle and investigate the blaze was approximately $19,000.

Garrett was charged with second-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, burning to defraud, conspiracy to commit burning to defraud, insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, illegal dumping, disruption of a school function, and disposing of lighted substance.

The Florida man was booked into the Brevard County Jail where his bond was set at $43,000.

Spangler was not charged in the case.