NIBLEY — A home was badly damaged Sunday night after a man, who has a lengthy history with law enforcement, attempted to burn it down while trying to harm himself. The fire occurred as deputies were trying to negotiate with the suspect to surrender.
Cache County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Matt Bilodeau said deputies were called to the home near 2990 South 1000 West on a domestic disturbance just after 10 p.m. The initial report was that two older brothers were fighting. As one of them attempted to drive away, the suspect jumped onto the hood of the car.
Police believe the suspect may have been involved in a hit-and-run crash in Logan earlier in the day.
Bilodeau explained that after the altercation between the two men, the suspect went back into the home and began making threats that he was going to harm himself.
SWAT teams were dispatched to the scene to attempt to negotiate with the suspect. As they continued to try and talk to him, deputies noticed flames coming from inside the home.
Bilodeau said the suspect had made threats that he was going to try and burn the house down. As firefighters arrived on the scene, the suspect came out of the home, dropped a knife and surrendered to deputies. He was arrested and transferred to the hospital for smoke inhalation and other injuries.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze but not before it caused significant damage to the two-story home.
Bilodeau said the suspect is being treated in the Mental Health Unit at Logan Regional Medical Center. Arson and other charges are pending the completion of the investigation.