JACKSON — A court summons has been issued for an Alpha man accused of setting his Jackson apartment on fire.
Emergency services responded to a Jackson apartment complex during the evening of Jan. 11 for a report of a second-story building fire. Thomas Reynolds, 38, reportedly stated that the blaze had started in his apartment and that he had jumped out of the second-floor window, leaving his phone behind and running to the law enforcement center to report the fire.
After the fire was extinguished, investigators examined the scene. They found pipes used for marijuana and methamphetamine inside Reynolds's apartment, along with the carcass of a cat that had died in the fire.
Another resident of the apartment complex told police that Reynolds had been causing problems with several of the tenants. Reynolds had also allegedly threatened people and said on the day of the fire, "I’m going to burn this [expletive] down."
Further investigation revealed the remains of a charred notebook in the kitchen sick, on which Reynolds had apparently written down a list of difficult life circumstances.
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In an interview, Reynolds reportedly told police that he had barricaded his apartment door because he was afraid people were going to hurt him. He then wrote in the notebook, set it on fire and took the metal ring out of the notebook, setting it on the upholstered chair where he was sitting. He believed it was possible that the fire could have started from the notebook in the chair.
Reynolds was charged with first-degree arson, a felony that carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. If convicted, he will be sentenced based on criminal history.
His first court appearance is set for Wednesday morning. Because Reynolds was not booked into jail, he does not have a mug shot.
