Lancaster City Police say a fire on the 500 block of West Vine Street was apparently set by a man who used to live there. Police arrested 50-year-old Frank Matt and charged him with arson, burglary, and risking or causing catastrophe.
They say it all started around 2 pm and quickly escalated. When police arrived they say Matt had locked himself and the owner inside and displayed a handgun out of the window. Police were able to escort the owner out the home.
Shortly after that, police noticed smoke was coming from the basement of the home. The fire quickly escalated to 3 alarms.The suspect soon surrendered and was taken into custody.
” I was one of the first officers on the scene and it unfolded very quickly. The whole thing from the time we made contact to the time he displayed the gun and surrendered. I don’t know if it’s because he accomplished his goal or was overcome with smoke but the whole thing took 3 or 4 minutes,” says Sgt. Bill Hickey, Lancaster City Police Department
Police say at some point Matt had switched the locks on the home and the owner was trying to switch them back when Matt arrived. Police are continuing to investigate how the suspected started the fire.