An Owensboro man has been charged with first-degree arson and second-degree assault after police say he attacked a victim and started a fire inside a home on Tuesday morning.
According to a release from the Owensboro Police Department, at approximately 7:30 a.m. on January 21, the Owensboro Fire Department responded to a fire in the 1300 block of Locust Street.
Upon arrival, firefighters located a resident who required medical attention for a head injury and a small fire inside the residence, authorities said. The victim was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital by AMR for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
OFD determined the cause of the fire was suspicious and contacted OPD for further investigation, the release says. OPD patrol officers conducted interviews, collected evidence from the home, and developed a suspect in the case.
Officers were initially unable to locate the suspect, and detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division responded to continue the investigation, OPD said.
The investigation later revealed that Jeffrey Boarman, 57, assaulted the victim and intentionally started a fire inside the home, according to OPD.
Boarman was taken into custody on January 22 on an unrelated arrest warrant and transported to OPD for questioning, the release says. Following the interview with detectives about the fire, Boarman was charged with assault and arson.
