Orignally published as a Merced Police Department Facebook post –
“Merced – Merced Police officers arrested Thomas Housley (69) for attempted arson.
At 10:38 PM, officers responded to a multi-unit housing complex at 314 W. 19th Street for attempted arson. The suspect, Housley, was detained at the scene. A witness reported that Housley tried to burn down the building after he lit paper on fire and poured gasoline on it.
The incident stemmed from a dispute that Housley had with tenants about missing or withheld mail. Thankfully, there was no damage caused to the structure and nobody was injured. The fire was extinguished by a resident before officers arrived.
Housley was arrested for attempted arson and booked into custody at the Merced County Jail.”
