EVERETT — A Snohomish man accused of trying to set his landlord’s trailer home on fire allegedly threatened deputies with a Japanese-syle sword when they tried to arrest him.
The incident occurred Saturday afternoon at a trailer park in he 6400 block of 123rd Avenue SE, according to a police report.
Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies believe the suspect went to his landlord’s trailer and knocked on the door. When no one answered, he allegedly lit up a rolled-up newspaper and threw it in front of the wooden screen door, causing it to burn.
The landlord, whose wife was inside, was in the back yard and smelled fire. When he investigated, he found the fire and was able to extinguish it. The couple had video surveillance.
A relative told deputies that the man had been high on meth for three days and had been acting weird.
The suspect was identified in court papers as James B. White, 44.
Deputies went to White’s home and found him in a shed in the back yard.
White allegedly told a deputy that he had a bomb and closed the shed door. When told he was under arrest, White reportedly opened the shed door, brandished the sword in his right hand and told deputies they would have come inside and get him.
A deputy fired a rubber bullet at the suspect’s chest, causing him to drop the sword. He continued to resist.
A police dog was sent into the shed and bit White on his lower left leg. Deputies then were able to take White into custody.
White was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation before being booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of arson and an outstanding warrant.
An Everett District Court judge maintained bail at $100,000 on Monday.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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