MIDWAY, Pa. — A man was arrested early Monday morning after police said he set fire to a Midway Borough home shortly after officers handled a domestic dispute at the residence.
Michael Higgins, Sr. was taken into custody and faces multiple charges.
Officers with the Smith Township Police Department first responded to 111 South Main Street at 10:22 p.m. Sunday for a report of a “loud physical domestic dispute.” Roughly two hours later, at 12:31 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched back to the same address for a fire that had engulfed the home while firefighters worked to tackle the flames.
The Midway fire chief said no one else was inside the home at the time of the fire, but crews rescued a dog that was locked inside.
One firefighter was treated on the scene for heat exhaustion.
During the investigation at the scene, a witness reported to Washington County 911 that they saw Higgins set the house on fire and run away down Noblestown Road toward the entrance of Midway Community Park.
Smith Township police requested assistance from neighboring agencies to search the surrounding area. Officers with the Mount Pleasant Township Police Department located Higgins near the intersection of Noblestown Road and Johns Avenue.
Higgins is charged with felony causing or risking a catastrophe, misdemeanor terroristic threats, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is in the Washington County Jail, where he awaits arraignment.
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