The Madisonville Police Department has arrested and charged a Madisonville man with first-degree arson and multiple counts of wanton endangerment.
According to the police report, firefighters and police were called to a house fire in the 500 block of Adams Avenue around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, and discovered three occupants inside at the time of the blaze. A witness told officers he had been sleeping on a couch in the living room when he was woken by the smell of smoke and discovered the living room curtains on fire.
When the victim went to wake others in the household, he reportedly entered the kitchen and discovered 50-year old Rodney Pentecost of Madisonville attempting to set another set of curtains on fire using a lighter. Pentecost allegedly fled out the back door of the residence.
He was located a short time later less than a block from the home, and charged with first-degree arson, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and third-degree terroristic threatening.
No one was injured in the incident.