FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) -- The fire marshal is investigating after a fire broke out at a Fayetteville duplex early Wednesday morning (Dec. 6).
According to the fire department, the call came in at 12:45 a.m. on 6497 Nicole Lane.
Firefighters said one side of the duplex is occupied while the other side is not. However, crews said no one was inside at the time of the fire.
According to a probable cause document from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, when a deputy arrived on scene, Vernon Kilpatrick, the occupant of the duplex, was screaming and holding a baseball bat above his head.
When asked if anyone was inside the burning building, Kilpatrick said "Yes, he didn't make it."
The document states Kilpatrick would not comply when asked to move away from the fire.
When he did, the deputy placed Kilpatrick in handcuffs because of his behavior.
As the deputy attempted to place Kilpatrick in their vehicle, Kilpatrick began screaming that the deputy was trying to kill him.
The document states that he also began fighting with the deputy and grabbed the front of the deputy's belt trying to pull items off.
Kilpatrick, 58, faces misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. he was being held Wednesday at the Washington County Detention Center on a $1,300 bond.
Rebecca Turner lives next door to Kilpatrick and said she heard him screaming and was too scared to leave her home.
She said she felt safe when she heard sirens and went outside to see what was going on.
For years, Turner said there have been weird things going on around the neighborhood and believed Kilpatrick may have been behind them.
“I think he did it because he was hearing people," Turner said. "I mean the police officer last night said he was talking about a reporter, which is weird now.”
The owner of the duplex said the building is a complete loss and plans to tear it down when they can.
They said they never had any issues with Kilpatrick.
