FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA) — A Louisiana man was arrested by Washington County deputies after they say he set a garage on fire that later spread to a home with his daughter inside.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested Leon R. Cardinal, 38, of Beaux Bridge, La. on suspicion of arson. He was booked into the Washington County Detention Center.
Court documents state on December 6, 2017, the mother of Cardinal’s children brought him to a home in Prairie Grove so he could see their children. The next day, she said he needed to leave.
She told deputies Cardinal got mad and went out to a shed on the property. Later, she went to lie down, and her daughter said the garage was on fire. The daughter also said Cardinal ran off into nearby woods.
Fire officials were called, and when they got to the home, a garage and shed were on fire. It had started to spread to the home when fire crews contained it, court documents state.
Cardinal was later taken into custody.