Police arrest man after confrontation during house fire

The man was charged with assault, resisting arrest and misconduct.

STAFF REPORT

AUSTINTOWN — A township man was arrested on charges of assault at the scene of a house fire, and another home was damaged by lightning.

Just after 5:30 a.m. Sunday, police were called to 4485 Viall Road, where township firefighters were trying to put out a blaze inside the house.

At the scene, officers were told that Daniel Fizet, 47, had pushed a firefighter and continued to be uncooperative and try to get back inside.

A patrolman entered the home and found Fizet shirtless in the kitchen. When he ordered Fizet out so firefighters could finish putting out the fire, Fizet began yelling profanities. He left the home, repeating, “This is my house. You can’t tell me what to do.”

Several minutes later, Fizet said he was going back into the house to get his cigarettes, pushing an officer out of the way as he tried to do so.

He was placed under arrest, but continued to struggle. He complied only after an officer drew his stun gun.

Firefighters were then able to put out the blaze, which was thought to be caused by clothing being placed too close to a space heater. The actual cause is still under investigation by the fire department.

Estimated loss was $8,000.

Fizet was taken to the Austintown Police Department for processing and then to the Mahoning County Jail on charges of assault on a peace officer and firefighter, resisting arrest and misconduct at an emergency. He was arraigned Monday afternoon in Mahoning County Court here.

The night before, firefighters responded at 8:30 to a call that the back corner of a home at 4513 Barrington Dr. had been hit by lightning.

The caller said the lightning traveled around the house through the gutter system. The homeowner, Robert Aigler, said one breaker box was ruined, and the outside lights were not working.

No one was injured in either incident.