Police make an arson arrest and thee owner of the property is behind bars. Police say he tried to collect on insurance money.

Four people were homeless after someone firebombed a Tyler Street apartment in August.
Friday night, those windows are still boarded up, but someone's behind bars---the owner.

Police say 56 year old Ali Hassan hired a 15 year old to firebomb his house on 194 Tyler Street months ago. The boy was allegedly paid in cash for his work, that left him with minor injuries.

Now, Hassan is feeling the heat himself. He's facing arson and insurance fraud charges. Hassan's family is embarrassed. His wife is in disbelief.

"This is embarrassing because this is our living and he's a well known businessman in Springfield," she says.

A reputation built up for the last 20 years tarnished in a night. Hassan is the owner of 16 properties in Springfield alone. His family says he picks them up at city auctions, then renovates, and rents them out. But the property on Tyler Street has always been a pain

"Everytime there was a problem, he'd go and report it," his wife says.

We've learned those problems would range from drug use to street fights.

"This particular property had ongoing problems and police were aware of it," she says.

So today's accusations took them by surprise. They want to know how their father and husband, could be accused of something like this.

"Financially, we're living comfortably," his wife says.