Williamsport, Pa. — A man who was kicked out of a Williamsport home for peeing on the floor returned later and allegedly set it on fire with a bottle of gasoline.
The porch and outside area of a home on Memorial Avenue was set alight when Saleen Kadeem Cole, 35, of Philadelphia threw the gasoline bottle on it before running away, Williamsport Bureau of Police Agent Jason Bolt said.
Investigators say they found the melted top of the bottle — and video of Cole filling it at a nearby gas station.
Police and fire units responded to the home in the 1000 block of Memorial Avenue after the homeowner and a witness called police. They reportedly used an extinguisher to extinguish the blaze before responders arrived.
A large portion of the porch, an outdoor rug, and parts of the south-facing wall had severe fire damage. An investigator called to the scene determined the cause to be arson.
A witness, who described seeing a large fireball on the porch, said a black man wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants, and a mask standing near the fire pointed a gun a her right before he fled.
A woman at the home said Cole, a relative from Philadelphia, was responsible for the fire. She said Cole was kicked out of the home earlier for urinating on the floor.
Several people had to physically remove Cole, who reportedly told the men, “I’m not responsible for my actions.”
Police were called to the home for the altercation, but left. Cole allegedly returned less than an hour later.
A 1-year-old child was inside the home when Cole allegedly returned with the bottle. Cole called the woman as she spoke with police. He allegedly told the victim, “I’m not denying that, I’m not saying that I did, but…”
Cole stopped speaking in the middle of his sentence and told the woman he was going back to Philadelphia.
Video from a nearby home showed a person matching Cole’s description run toward the home before the glow from a fire was seen. He then ran by the camera a second time in the opposite direction.
Cole was recorded filling the bottle at a gas station wearing the same outfit. He paid for the fuel with change.
Cole, who is being actively sought by police, is charged with aggravated arson, arson, and risking catastrophe. No bail or court dates have been set.
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