Published: January 19, 2007 04:15 pm      

Local man accused of assault, arson

Gaines allegedly set trailer on fire after assaulting mother

Somerset — A White Lily man was arrested for arson, assault and wanton endangerment after he assaulted his mother and started a fire at her home on Thursday.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, the department along with the White Lily Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire located at 7474 Hwy. 1643 Somerset, on that day.

Upon arrival at the scene they found that a mobile home was on fire. The subsequent investigation revealed that a domestic violence assault had occurred before the fire was started. They found that Derrick Gaines had assaulted his mother and started the fire inside the mobile home, with his mother and another female inside, by pouring kerosene onto the floor and igniting the flammable liquid.

At the scene Gaines, 22, was arrested by Deputy Steve Molen and charged with first-degree arson, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and fourth-degree domestic violence assault.

Gaines was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center and has a $50,000 cash bond.

Caption Mark Catron with the Somerset Fire Investigation Division said there was heavy damage to half of the structure and the rest of the structure had severe heat and smoke damage.

Catron also said that the Mt. Victory Fire Department also responded to the scene.

The investigation is continuing by the Somerset Fire Investigation Division along with the White Lily Fire Department and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Depart-ment.