A Scranton man threatened to kill his father before attempting to start a fire at their residence, police said.
Luis Martinez, 20, of 1629 S. Webster Ave., faces a felony charge of making terroristic threats, in addition to misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
According to the criminal complaint, Scranton police were called to the South Webster Avenue residence at about 4 p.m. Monday, after Luis Martinez Sr. reported his son, Luis Martinez Jr., was breaking multiple items inside the home and attempted to set the residence on fire.
Martinez Sr. said he would remain at the intersection of South Webster Avenue and Genet Street, because he was afraid to be inside the residence with his son.
Officers approached the house and took Martinez Jr. into custody. Police noted they recognized him from other encounters.
Officers entered the house to see if anything was on fire and noted a burnt smell inside the house. Police contacted the Scranton Fire Department, who responded to the residence.
Firefighters located a burnt paper towel, with what appeared to be water poured over it. They also found an empty bottle of hand sanitizer, which had been poured onto paper towels.
The paper towels were placed under the door, as if they had been placed there to be lit.
They noted there was a lighter nearby.
Officers also located a 1997 Dodge van in the rear of the residence with all its windows and taillights smashed with what appeared to be a brick.
Martinez Sr. said his son had received a phone call from police detectives earlier in the day regarding a previous incident.
When Martinez Sr. asked him about it, his son got upset and began breaking items inside the home, police said.
He then threatened to kill his father by setting the house on fire, Martinez Sr. said.
Martinez Jr. then allegedly went outside and began destroying the van. He denied trying to set the house on fire and said the smell inside the house was marijuana.
When asked if he had damaged the van, he said he would pay to repair it.
He remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on May 4 before District Judge Christopher J. Szewczyk.