PALM BAY, Fla. -- A "person of interest" in a series of home-destroying Central Florida wildfires was arrested Wednesday after a homeowner spotted him setting a new fire, police said.

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IMAGES: Crowder Taken Into Custody
RELATED: Crowder Guarded After Bounty Offered
IMAGES: Wanted: Dead Or Alive

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Brian B. Crowder, 31, was arrested following a reverse 911 call to residents of a southeast Palm Bay neighborhood and a manhunt.

Crowder was detained at Southwest Middle School, located at 451 Eldron Blvd. S.E.

Initially, Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger said a witness saw a man in a dark-colored Ford Tempo toss something from the window at about 4:18 a.m. in the 400 block of Alavorado Street. Within minutes a small fire erupted, police said.

The witness called police and police began a search.

Good Samaritan Chased Man

Later Wednesday morning, Good Samaritan Matt Samaco, who police described as a "Godsend," said he was watering his garden and spotted Crowder starting a fire.

"I saw (Crowder) and he was squatted down by the sign and he had a long wire and was trying to light a fire," Samaco said. "That's when I said, 'Hey, S.O.B.' He then got up and hauled butt. I kicked my gate open and chased him up through his woods."

Samaco said he stayed on the phone and let police know his location during a chase through some woods.

"All I could see is me getting a hold of him and choking him out," Samaco said. "I wanted to do what everyone else in Palm Bay wanted to do and put him down. It's a good thing that they caught him and I didn't. Let's leave it at that."

Crowder was taken into custody by police but was transported to Palm Bay Community Hospital with bite wounds from a K-9.

Crowder was arrested for six violations of probation warrants. Officers said they were investigating any links to at least 11 other suspected arsons this week.

Berger said more than 60 officers and a helicopter were involved in this morning's search.

Reward Money Back To People?

Local 6's Todd Jurkowski asked Samaco about a reward being offered for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in the recent wildfires.

"Why not give it back to the damn people who lost everything that they own. Why keep it. It is just putting somebody behind bars that needs to be there that is sick and ruined a lot of people's lives."

Samaco said he lost his home during a hurricane.

"I know what it is like to lose everything you have and start over from nothing because I didn't have insurance or anything," Samaco said.

Crowder Has Prior Arrests

Berger said Crowder has several violations of probation in his background. Berger said Crowder's criminal history consists primarily of drug-related violations.

Crowder's vehicle was seized and police plan to execute a warrant to search the vehicle.

Asked if Palm Bay police have caught their arsonist, Berger said, "I hope so, but I don't know. This may have just been a coincidence. The hard part is putting all of this together."

10,000 Acres Burned

The fires reported in Brevard County have burned roughly 10,000 acres, or more than 15 square miles. Officials on Wednesday said containment efforts are improving around the blazes.

The Florida Division of Forestry said 22 homes in the Palm Bay area were destroyed and about 120 other structures, including homes and outbuildings, were damaged.

Officials said the total damage estimate was about $9.6 million.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.