Woman ‘set fire to ex-boyfriend’s house and stabbed police officer in row over teddy bear’

Brittany Bonin 'set crib ablaze where Michael Demalia's daughter slept before pursuing him with a knife'

Ms Bonin also allegedly ransacked the house, causing extensive damage (WFTV9 abc)

A woman reportedly burned down her ex-boyfriend’s house in a row over a teddy bear, then chased him with a knife before stabbing a police officer who tried to protect him.

Brittany Bonin, 26, flew into a rage when demanding Michael Demalia return a stuffed animal she had given his 18-month-old daughter Natalie, his sister Jacqueline said.

After an exchange of words at the door of the house in Edgewater, Florida, she pushed her way past, charged down the hall and set fire to the child’s crib.

Ms Bonin reportedly then ransacked the house — including smashing a 90-gallon fishtank which flooded the property — before chasing Mr Demalia with a knife.

He fled across the road to a neighbour — off-duty deputy Captain Cliff Williams — who stood between the pair, but Ms Bonin allegedly stabbed him as he tried to defend Mr Demalia.

His sister Jacqueline said the row started when Ms Bonin turned up at his front door and demanded that he return the teddy she had given to his daughter.

She told the WFTV 9 abc news TV channel: “He had it in his hand and gave it to her, and that’s when she pushed her way through the door and attacked him.”

Ms Demalia said Ms Bonin then charged down the hall and into the room where Mr Demalia’s daughter Natalie slept, saying: “She set a fire in the crib.”

Images showed the cot blackened from flames among the damage Ms Bonin allegedly caused at the house. The child was not at home.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood said that Ms Bonin stabbed Captain Williams when he tried to shield Mr Demalia when Ms Bonin tried to attack him with a knife.

Sheriff Chitwood, in a report on WFTV 9 abc, said: “It just goes to show you are never truly off duty. He took a knife wound that was meant for someone else because his instinct was to step in as a protector.”

Captain Williams suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said.

Standing amid the debris at Mr Demalia's house, his sister Jacqueline pointed to a stuffed animal and said: “She set this house on fire over this teddy bear.”

She added: “We’re going to get him a new home, a fresh start and as fast as we possibly can.”

Ms Bonin faces charges of assault, battery and arson, police said. She was held in custody on remand and is due to appear before court.