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Gene Kennedy reportingOfficers responded to a house fire Friday morning in Kearns, which was reportedly started by a man inside.
The man reportedly set his own house on fire after a domestic dispute.
The suspect is 35 years-old, and police are not releasing his name until charges are filed. Police are still trying to figure out what set him off.
Suspect: "You want to make me mad...come on, come on, come on.? ...
Paul Jaroscak, Sheriff, Salt Lake County: "We got a call from a 15 year-old boy saying his father was getting our of control and kept it up all night long, from one a.m. to seven. At that point he began saying he was going to burn the house down. When we got here, we tried to make contact but he was un-cooperative and kept talking about burning the house down."
Spring Minick, Neighbor: "(reporter question: ‘what was he saying?') No I'm not coming out, come in and get me."
Paul Jaroscak, Sheriff, Salt Lake County: "We could see there was a glow coming from inside the house so a fire had started. Our deputies forced entry, the man still wouldn't come out. Finally we were able to talk him to the front porch. We thought he would give himself up, instead he ran from the house."
Spring Minick, Neighbor: "They shot the dude with a Tazer and he just went boom, and fell on the porch and his house went up in flames."
Paul Jaroscak, Sheriff, Salt Lake County: "We then had to go and check for other people. Think there were two animals in the house. We rescued those as the house was on fire."
A bizarre chain of events following a domestic dispute.
Patricia Soto, Neighbor: "I saw glass broken and some yelling."
Patricia Soto lives across the street from the suspect and says that wasn't the neighbor she knows.
Patricia Soto, Neighbor: "It looks like he was drunk or something. He wasn't in his mind. I'm sure he was drunk or something."
Paul Jaroscak, Sheriff, Salt Lake County: "The family is indicating there may be some drug use...some possible methamphetamine usage.
The family also told police the man had a knife, but it turns out he was only armed with his willpower, not a weapon.
The three other people who live at the home are OK. No one was injured.
The suspect is undergoing treatment today at U of U. for smoke inhalation. He'll also receive a mental evaluation.
Unless new information reveals otherwise, the suspect will face arson charges.
