A man who was trying to save his dogs from a burning fire was arrested by police. There's more to the story though.

News 6 Orlando reports that Brevard County sheriff's deputies arrested 58 year-old Thomas Joyner Wednesday morning after they say he ignored firefighters' commands.

Investigators say a television sparked the blaze, which later spread throughout the home. The house was reportedly full of smoke when firefighters arrived.

Joyner ignored orders, and kept going inside his burning home to save his three dogs. Joyner said

I got out of the house, and then I realized, 'Oh, wait a minute, my dogs are in there, " Joyner said. "So, I went back inside to look for my dogs.

Joyner told News 6 that he kept getting overcome with smoke, and he had to keep coming outside to catch his breath.

Joyner said he resorted to desperate measures by grabbing a firefighter's ax and throwing it through a front window to get access to his dogs.

Deputies arrived, and tackled Joyner to the ground.

News 6 says that Joyner was taken to a hospital for a CAT scan, and then taken to the Brevard County Jail, where he was booked on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Joyner's defense?

My defense is -- I was trying to save my dogs.

Brevard County sheriff's spokesman David Jacobs said his deputies suspected Joyner was intoxicated when they showed up. Police were worried what he may have done with the ax if he was drunk.

Joyner was charged with two misdemeanors.

Joyner's dogs were eventually rescued by Brevard County Fire Rescue crews and then returned to Joyner. They are staying with family.

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