SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man is in custody after police say a disturbance in progress resulted in the man being charged with an arson felony.
According to the South Williamsport Police Department, on March 29 around 9:41 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of West Mountain Avenue. Officers say the victim told them 37-year-old Saleem Abdullah Thomas was trying to set the home on fire.
The South Williamsport Police say Thomas smelled like smoke and burnt motor oil with a black oily residue on his clothing. Upon arrival, police say, they found empty oil cans, an oil trail leading up to the apartment, and oil splashed on the wall by the garage door.
Person rescued from Schuylkill County fire, flown to hospital
Pennsylvania State Fire Marshal Birch investigated the scene and concluded the fire to be 'incendiary', an act of arson due to multiple electrical devices being placed in the kitchen oven and ignited.
Thomas has been charged with arson-danger of death or bodily injury, causing catastrophe, arson-endangering, reckless burning or exploding, criminal mischief, and possessing explosives.
