A man has been charged with arson after a fire in Midtown Thursday displaced a family of four.

Khayree Darton, 36 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for second degree arson stemming from an incident that took place Thursday in the 1600 block of S 17th St.

According to court documents, a little after midnight Darton is accused of intentionally setting fire to the home after his girlfriend broke-up with him.

“Told Darton she did not want to be in a relationship with him and started to leave the residence when Darton wanted her to stay,” said Officer Eric Powell with the St. Joseph Police Dept. “As (she) was leaving Darton said ‘that’s why I caught your house on fire.'”

Powell said the woman left the residence and returned about seven minutes later to find the house engulfed in flames.

“The defendant and victim have been in a relationship approximately two years and ongoing domestic assault issues.  The defendant has previous convictions reference domestic assault. The defendant committed arson and destroyed the victims home with no regard for her safety,” Powell said. “No regard for the safety of the neighbors.”

As we previously reported, fire caused extensive damage and displaced a family of four Thursday morning.  The family was found safely evacuated.

Court documents said Darton is from Louisiana and is currently unemployed.

Darton is being held without bail.  An arraignment is set forTuesday