Washington Man Accused of Setting House on Fire with His Elderly Disabled Father Inside

Law enforcement officials claim a man in Washington tried to burn down his house with his elderly, disabled father still inside.

The suspect, William Allan Lewis, allegedly also held a sibling at gunpoint inside the residence, but the sibling escaped as Franklin County deputies arrived on the scene, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials did not state who called police, but the deputies called in assistance from multiple agencies after learning Lewis’s father was an apparent hostage.

The hostage negotiators attempted to get in contact with Lewis by cell phone to negotiate his surrender, but he refused to answer the phone.

Instead, he set a fire in the home’s bathroom, authorities said.

Lewis then appeared at the home’s front door and surrendered to authorities. A tactical team made entry into the home, rescuing the elderly father.

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Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and no one was injured during the incident, authorities said.

Lewis was arrested and charged with arson, attempted murder, unlawful imprisonment, and assault, according to police.