SANTA ANA – A man was arrested Monday after officers saw him smashing windows on a second-floor balcony at the South Coast Springs condo complex around 6 a.m., police said.

As they approached the building in the 3600 block of South Bear Street, “officers heard a fire alarm along with a male screaming and windows breaking,” Santa Ana police Cmdr. Jeffrey Smith said.

Police ordered the man, Burke Rowe, 54, who lived in the condo, to exit the building, Smith said. He did and was arrested.

A shotgun and expended shells were found on the floor of the condo and officers stomped-out a flaming pile of miscellaneous papers that were also on the condo’s floor, Smith said.

“A 10-year-old boy emerged from the condo a few moments later and ran to officers,” Smith said. He was unharmed, and investigator’s later determined that he was Rowe’s son.

Rowe, who officers believe had recently fired the shotgun inside the apartment, was treated for multiple injuries – mostly cuts and bruises – that investigators believe he got while smashing the windows, Smith said.

“Investigators believe he might have been under the influence of some sort of narcotic,” Smith said.

Rowe was booked on suspicion of child endangerment, discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling and arson, Smith said.

Anyone with information about this incident can call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227).

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or jsudock@scng.com