NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Charges have been dropped against a North Miami Beach man previously accused of targeting a home in a series of alleged arson incidents over a five-month span, according to court records obtained by Local 10 on Friday.
Video obtained Friday by Local 10 show a man who police said was 52-year-old Larry Michael Baum allegedly stopping outside the home while walking a dog and attempting to ignite bushes on multiple occasions, according to police.
Investigators said the first incident occurred Nov. 12, 2025, at a home in the 19200 block of Northeast 22nd Avenue. Surveillance video allegedly showed Baum briefly causing a small fire before leaving the area on foot, police said.
Authorities said a second incident happened March 3, when surveillance video again showed a man who appeared to be Baum stopping in front of the same home and igniting leaves in the bushes using what appeared to be a lit cigarette or cigar. The homeowner confronted him and later extinguished smoldering leaves, according to investigators.
North Miami Beach police said Baum was arrested on April 13 in connection with both incidents.
Baum’s attorney told Local 10 News in an email Friday that the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office dropped all charges “as they agreed this was a mistake.”
Closeout memos obtained by Local 10 from the State Attorney’s Office indeed show that charges were dropped in both cases on Monday.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated that Baum was facing charges of second-degree arson and criminal mischief. Court documents filed Monday by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and obtained by Local 10 News show prosecutors have since dropped all charges.
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