Man escapes injury in fire authorities call arson

By D. E. Smoot
Phoenix Staff Writer

July 20, 2007 12:59 am

— A Muskogee man was awakened early Wednesday by a fire believed to have been ignited when somebody threw an incendiary device through his bedroom window.
Muskogee Fire Marshal Toby Webb said the fire did little damage. The victim’s bed linens caught fire, and the window was broken by what was described as a Molotov cocktail. The incident, however, is being investigated as a first-degree arson.
“Apparently they threw some type of the object toward the window,” Webb said. “They broke the glass with the object, but it fell outside the structure.”
According to police reports, the arson was reported at 1:15 a.m. by James Logan. The incident occurred at 324 S. 15th St. About 1 1/2 hours later, a woman identified in police reports as Sandra Cooper told authorities someone called occupants at the same residence and threatened to kill those people.
Authorities believe the two incidents are related, but no suspects have been identified. Webb said the investigation is ongoing.
Reach D.E. Smoot at 918-684-2903 or Click Here to Send Email

You can help

If you have any information about the fire at 324 S. 15th St., call the Muskogee Fire Marshal at 687-5483 or the Muskogee Police Department at 683-8000.