NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A man faced a judge on Monday, accused by police of dousing his girlfriend and her daughter with an accelerant before lighting a fire.

Howard Stewart, 50, is accused of intentionally setting fire to his second-floor Market Street apartment after dousing his girlfriend and her 12-year-old daughter with a flammable liquid.

Police said the 12-year-old woke up when she felt the liquid being dumped on her at about 8 p.m. She started to run while Stewart was flicking lit matches at her. The girl ran down the back stairs but police said Stewart grabbed her from behind and dragged her back upstairs and poured more liquid on her.

"She was screaming, 'Help me, Somebody's trying to kill me and the baby,'" said neighbor John Marcella.

Police said the 12-year-old was able to rescue her 3-month-old sister when she ran out of the house the second time.

Police said Stewart's girlfriend suffered second- and third-degree burns and was transported to Bridgeport Hospital’s Burn Unit. The girlfriend, identified as Christina Lee, remained in critical condition Monday morning.

Lee's close friend Lawrence Gore said, "She's alive. She's pretty bad but she's still here."

"I really don't know much about the guy, never see him, maybe once in a while on his way in or out," said Marcella. "It's shocking to hear."

Police said that after lighting the fire, Stewart fled the apartment, but was apprehended a short distance away. Police said the couple had an argument on Saturday night.

Stewart has been charged with arson, assault and two counts of risk of injury among other charges. His bond was increased from $1 million to $2 million during a court appearance Monday.

In court records, police said the 12-year-old, "Told her mother that Stewart had been touching her. She was scared and wanted him to stop."

Police said Stewart denied assaulting the girl. Court documents said Stewart told an officer the couple was having money problems and added, "I never touched that girl. She's just lying to cause more problems."