FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A man is facing felony charges in relation to a June 7 house fire in Fargo.
According to court documents obtained by Valley News Live, Larry Desjarlais was near the scene of the fire on June 7 and reportedly told police he started the fire which caused the tenants inside to evacuate.
A detective spoke to Desjarlais, who told him that he used a torch that he also uses for meth to start the fire. He also said that he had smoked Meth the night before. He told the detective that his ex had lit his house in Mandan on fire years ago, and that he understood what he did was dangerous and could cause serious damage.
Desjarlais had told a fire investigator that he had torched his mattress in his apartment. Desjarlais was arrested for arson, and transported to the emergency room, and then to Cass County jail.
The fire investigator determined that the amount of damage caused by Desjarlais totaled $69,000. He also said the fire put the lives of the people living in that home at the time at risk.
Desjarlais is charged with endangering by fire or explosion with damage in excess of $2,000 – extreme indifference.
The house involved is the same place where authorities spent hours trying to execute a high-risk search warrant on June 14.
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