A northwest Iowa man faces arson and attempted murder charges after he allegedly tried to burn down the house of his sister and her family in Perry Monday.
Marcus Allen During, 40, of 204 First Ave., Rock Rapids, Iowa, was arrested on charges of three counts of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree harassment, first-degree arson and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
The incident began about 4:15 p.m. Monday in a house in the 1700 block of Third Street, where officers of the Perry Police Department responded to a report of a fire.
While firefighters with the Perry Volunteer Fire Department controlled the fire, the officers made contact with the occupant of the house, who told the officers that During allegedly “was attempting to set her house on fire,” according to court records.
The occupant told the officers that During allegedly told the occupant “that he was going to kill her and her entire family, stating, ‘I want you all to burn in hell,'” according to court records.
The officers viewed a video that allegedly showed During “starting the fire” on the porch of the house and “sitting down, watching the fire” as “flames are seen,” according to court records.
Two adults and one minor were residing in the house at the time of the alleged arson.
During was taken into custody at the scene and placed in the rear seat of a patrol vehicle, where “he began to hit his head against the glass multiple times,” according to court records.
During was transported to the Dallas County Hospital for treatment, where he allegedly made repeated threats of physical harm to the police officers.
During is held in the Dallas County Jail without bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 24 in Dallas County District Court.
During was arrested Sunday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia after officers of the Perry Police Department allegedly found him in possession of “a clear glass pipe with white residue, which is commonly used to smoke methamphetamine,” according to court records. The case is pending in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
