A Scranton man lit a New Street porch on fire, setting it ablaze with a cigarette lighter, according to a criminal complaint.
Robert Jumper, 49, of 504 New St., is accused of setting a neighbor’s porch on fire Saturday in a dispute over the sale of a motorized bicycle.
According to the complaint:
At about 7 p.m., police were called to 704 New St. on a report of a possible arson. When officers arrived the Scranton Fire Department had already extinguished the fire and was investigating.
Officers described the structure as a “wood-frame two-story residential home.”
Fire inspector David Megotz was on scene and noted that the fire seemed to stem from an area near the front door. He noted a large, melted area on the lower left corner of the storm door.
The fire had spread slightly to the common area of the residence.
A K-9 officer detected accelerant on the front porch carpet, and officers spotted a gas can on the westerly side lawn.
They obtained video footage that showed a man appearing to pour gasoline from a can near the front door.
Lisa Smith told officers she had been sitting on the front porch when Jumper poured gas on the porch and lit it with a cigarette lighter.
She said she and Jumper had been drinking coffee all day when he got into an altercation with the downstairs neighbor. Jumper was knocked to the ground, she said.
He then left the residence with a friend.
When he returned he had a gas can with him and walked directly onto the porch and set it on fire.
Smith was sitting just a few feet away and ran when she saw the flames.
Jumper is charged with reckless endangerment, arson and related offenses. He remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on Aug. 12 before District Judge George Seig.