EAST CARROLL PARISH (May 24, 2022)- The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) has arrested a Lake Providence man for allegedly setting fire to his home which threatened the occupied house next door.

Clarence Davis, 37, was booked on May 23 on one count of Aggravated Arson and three counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

In the early morning hours of May 16, the Lake Providence Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire located in the 1200 block of Hanford Street. While no one was inside of the home at the time of the fire, the house next door, which suffered exposure damage, had at least one resident asleep inside.

After an assessment of the scene, deputies narrowed down the area of origin to the home’s living room area and determined the fire was intentionally set. Witness statements and evidence collected led deputies to identify Davis, the homeowner, as a suspect in the case. During the course of the investigation, deputies learned Davis was a convicted felon and confirmed the presence of three weapons in his fire-damaged home.

Following an interview with deputies, an arrest warrant was obtained and Davis was booked in connection with the case.