A Florida man set fire to a Union Beach home, hit a vehicle as he fled the scene in one car, abandoned that car and stole another, and then tried to run from police when they attempted to pull him over, authorities said today.

Union Beach police were first responding to the fire at a home on Dock Street Friday, when they also received a call about a hit and run a block away. The home was not occupied at the time of the fire, they said.

Officers responding to the hit and run then found a running unoccupied car registered to 35-year-old Billie Garcia of Florida, according to officials. (They did not say what happened to the vehicle he allegedly hit or if it was occupied at the time.)

They said Garcia had fled the scene before officers arrived and then stole another vehicle.

Officers then found Garcia driving the stolen vehicle and attempted to perform a traffic stop but he refused to stop the car. Authorities said Garcia abandoned the second car, and officers chased him into nearby marshlands where he was taken into custody.

After further investigation, the Monmouth County Fire Marshal determined Garcia was the one who damaged and set fire to the home on Dock Street.

Garcia has been charged with criminal mischief, motor vehicle theft, driving while intoxicated, resisting by flight, two counts of driving with a suspended license and multiple motor vehicle offenses.

Garcia is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips.

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