VICCO — A Perry County man has been arrested and is facing charges related to an alleged arson spree on Tuesday.
Johnny Williams, 48, of Vicco, was taken into custody at his niece’s residence in Vicco after allegedly setting fire to a mobile home and pick-up truck.
Vicco City Police Chief Tony Vaughn said a vehicle fire was called in at 44 Green Bridge Bottom just before 4 p.m. After the vehicle fire was extinguished and police were talking to witnesses, Vaughn said a witness reported smoke coming from the mobile home where the truck had been parked.
“We actually had to break into the trailer to see if anybody was in it,” Vaughn said. “The girl that we were talking to said there was smoke coming from the trailer, so I knocked in the front door and there was a mattress on fire in the living room.”
Vaughn said based on information from witnesses, police were able to issue an arrest warrant for Williams, who has maintained his innocence, that day.
“I believe his exact words when we came to get him were, ‘What do you boys need?,’” he said.
According to the arrest citation, Williams is being charged with two counts of first-degree arson, two counts first-degree wanton endangerment, one count first-degree criminal mischief, and one count first-degree possession of a controlled substance. Upon detainment, Williams was also found to be carrying three unspecified pills and a lighter.
Williams is being lodged at the Kentucky River Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash bond. His arraignment is set for Monday.
Another fire had been set earlier that day, just up the road at 650 Montgomery Branch Rd at around 2 p.m. Although no witnesses have said they saw Williams set the fire, arresting officer Deputy Elmer Fugate wrote in the citation that witnesses saw him at the residence after the house had burnt and been put out.
Vaughn said police suspect Williams is involved in the house fire but have no witnesses at this time.
This is not the first time Williams has been brought up on fire-related charges. In June 2012, he was arrested “after he poured gasoline over his head and attempted to light himself on fire with a lit cigarette as three Perry County deputies stood nearby,” the Herald reported. He was found not guilty by a jury of felony endangerment in the case earlier this year.
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