NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — A Pea Ridge man is in the Benton County Jail charged with felony arson, according to documents from the Benton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Lester Dale Dover, 39, of 12506 Schrader Road in Pea Ridge, was arrested Monday following an investigation by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, authorities said.
Tests on ashes and clothing sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab showed a house fire at 14985 Gary Fletcher Road in the Garfield area was intentionally set, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Dover was at a family gathering Feb. 28 at a residence near Gravette when he got into a physical fight with another person at the residence, according to the affidavit.
Dover threatened to burn down Jeremiah Cotton’s house at 14985 Gary Fletcher Road as he was leaving the residence, according to the affidavit. A few hours later, the house burned to the ground, according to authorities.
Jeremy Felton of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Will Hanna, county fire marshal, investigated the fire.
When first responders arrived, the structure was engulfed in flames; the roof had collapsed but four walls standing, according to a report from Hanna.
During the investigation, officials found several sizable holes in the floor that were not “readily explainable,” Hanna’s report said.
Authorities took samples of the ashes from the holes and articles of clothing from Dover and sent them to the Crime Lab. Both showed traces of methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene and gasoline, according to the affidavit.
Methyl isobutyl ketone is used as a solvent for guns, resins, paints and a fuel additive. Toluene is used as a solvent, thinner for paints and an octane booster in gasoline, according to the report.
Arson is a Class Y felony is the property sustains damages in an amount of at least $100,000, according to information from the prosecutor’s office.
Cotton’s insurance company paid him a total of $142,533, according to the affidavit.
Dover was being held Tuesday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.