A 47-year-old man and his dog were arrested after allegedly using a makeshift flamethrower to set a garage on fire in Port Orchard, Washington, on August 4. The homeowner was inside the residence at the time but was not injured.
Footage from the incident shows the suspect arriving at the victim's home on a golf cart with a small dog. The man is seen using a weed burner attached to a propane tank on the back of the cart to ignite the garage frame. He then reportedly added a liquid accelerant, which intensified the flames. The dog was observed watching the fire nervously.
A witness told authorities that the suspect claimed to be with the fire department and later attempted to run the witness over with the golf cart while brandishing the flamethrower.
Firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze. The fire destroyed the homeowner's car, valued at $25,000, and caused an estimated $150,000 to $175,000 in damage to the home. The homeowner stated they did not know the suspect and had no idea why the fire was started.
Law enforcement apprehended the man, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. He provided police with a different account of the events, claiming he was at his own home burning items when a stranger attacked him. He was booked into the Kitsap County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson and second-degree assault. He was scheduled to appear in Kitsap County Superior Court on Friday.