A Scranton man threatened to kill his father before attempting to start a fire at their residence, police said.<\/p>\n
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,\u00a0 criminal mischief and possession of a small amount of marijuana.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Officers approached the house and took Martinez Jr. into custody. Police noted they recognized him from other encounters.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The paper towels were placed under the door, as if they had been placed there to be lit.<\/p>\n
They noted there was a lighter nearby.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Martinez Sr. said his son had received a phone call from police detectives earlier in the day regarding a previous incident.<\/p>\n
When Martinez Sr. asked him about it, his son got upset and began breaking items inside the home, police said.<\/p>\n
He then threatened to kill his father by setting the house on fire, Martinez Sr. said.<\/p>\n
Martinez Jr. then allegedly went outside and began destroying the van. He\u00a0denied trying to set the house on fire and said the smell inside the house was marijuana.<\/p>\n
When asked if he had damaged the van, he said he would pay to repair it.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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