MADISON PARISH (June 16, 2022)- The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) has arrested a Texas man for allegedly setting fire to a vehicle that was located within feet of an occupied home.

Decedrick Thomas, 58, was taken into custody in Killeen, Texas on June 14 and transported to Madison Parish where he was booked on one count of Aggravated Arson.

In the early morning hours of January 1, 2022, the Tallulah Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire located in the 700 block of South Elm Street. The vehicle was located less than five feet from the home at that address where four people were inside at the time.

After an assessment of the scene, deputies determined the fire was intentionally set.

Deputies learned Thomas, who was related to the occupants of the home, had been involved in an argument with one of the residents earlier in the day at a home in Mississippi. Witness statements and evidence obtained at the scene indicated that Thomas detoured to the home during his travels from Mississippi back to Texas that evening and that he was responsible for setting the vehicle on fire.

After extensive efforts to locate Thomas, Texas DPS troopers took him into custody on June 14th in connection with the SFM’s warrant for him in this case. Thomas was then transported to and booked in Madison Parish.