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WEST POINT — Police have arrested a North Ogden man in connection with a grass fire that burned 300 acres Tuesday in West Point.
Crews were responding to the fire about 3 a.m. near the Bayview Duck Club, about 5000 West and 300 North, when they were approached by a man wearing only shorts. Corey Jay Halvorson, 29, was the only person in the area, which was clearly marked as state lands, according to a Davis County Jail report.
"Probable cause exists that (Halvorson) had started the fire (and) was not able to contain it," the report states. "When he approached fire personnel he was swearing at them and preventing them from doing their job."
At one point, Halvorson allegedly tried to lock himself in a fire truck. Halvorson was arrested after fire authorities called police.
Halvorson was treated for burns on his feet and booked into jail for investigation of reckless burning, trespassing on state lands, lighting a fire where prohibited, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
Probable cause exists that (Halvorson) had started the fire (and) was not able to contain it. When he approached fire personnel he was swearing at them and preventing them from doing their job.
–Davis County Jail report
No structures were threatened by the fire even as strong winds whipped up the flames, said North Davis Fire District spokesman Mark Sessions.
"This was not a good day, especially in the morning, for this fire to start," Sessions said.
Crews originally extinguished the fire after about four hours and remained at the scene into Tuesday afternoon monitoring hot spots. However, the blaze flared up again late afternoon and grew to 300 acres and remained about that size Tuesday night.
The North Davis Fire District asked motorists to avoid any point west of 3000 West between 1800 North in West Point and Antelope Drive in Layton, saying firefighters needed clear roads to access the blaze with ease.
Halvorson, along with two others, pleaded guilty in 2004 to manslaughter in the shooting death of Jesus Ozuna Aguilar, 49. The three roommates said they were about to be kicked out of Aguilar's house and confronted him with the intent of simply scaring him but ended up killing him after Aguilar pulled a knife, according to police.
The three were sentenced to one to 15 years in prison.
Halvorson has also been convicted in Utah of attempted robbery, burglary of a vehicle, theft, simple assault and intoxication.
Contributing: Mike Anderson, Ben Lockhart, Andrew Adams
