A man from Missouri has been apprehended on charges of arson following an incident in Independence where he allegedly ignited a fire at a residence occupied by four individuals.
Fortunately, none of the occupants sustained injuries, as the Independence Fire Department swiftly managed to put out the blaze, according to a report by KCTV.
The suspect, 35-year-old Tylor A. Burghoff, was apprehended just two blocks away from the scene. Police discovered two lighters in his possession, and a witness recounted seeing Burghoff observing the fire, laughing, before casually walking away.
The homeowner, who recognized Burghoff, claimed to have witnessed him outside the dwelling, yelling and laughing prior to the outbreak of the fire. Another onlooker reported noticing Burghoff retrieving a blue can from beneath a table on the porch. Despite knocking on the door, the residents did not respond.
Upon investigation, authorities located the blue can near the fire-damaged section of the front porch. It was found to contain acetone.
The fire inflicted damage on the porch and siding but luckily did not penetrate the interior of the house. All four residents were safely evacuated, with two of them having been asleep during the incident.
Burghoff denied starting the fire.
According to court records, he has previous arrests for drug distribution and property damage.
He was given a $30,000 bond and is due in court on Tuesday.
