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Man Arrested in Death of Toddler After Lighting Apartment on Fire, Stabbing Self

Police launched a homicide investigation Friday into the death of a toddler and the man suspected in the case was taken into custody after setting an apartment unit on fire and stabbing himself, police said.

The man, identified by LAPD court records as Noe Torres, 48, had been under the influence of methamphetamines, said LAPD Capt. Steve Carmona.

The 13-month-old victim's mother took the child to a hospital, where the toddler died, according to Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.

An officer answering an assault with a deadly weapon/man with a knife call about 2:05 p.m. in the 13200 block of Vanowen Street encountered a "somewhat combative" man -- with a knife protruding from his chest -- and took him into custody, Carmona said.

About the same time, firefighters were dispatched to the apartment blaze in the 13100 block of Vanowen, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"The mother rolled in, just started yelling at him," said Guillermo Voadz, a witness. "Flames were out of control. He reached outside window, and just fell out. He landed on his feet, and just continued walking like nothing happened."

Torres, who police said was the child's father, was taken to a hospital. He is expected to survive and to be booked once medically cleared, police said.

Madison said investigators were working to determine what caused the child's death.

Police said earlier that the girl had been thrown from the apartment window. Police also initially said the girl was 2 years old.

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