Screenshot

Michael Eugene Cover, 55, was arrested late Wednesday night after allegedly setting a fire in the hallway outside his third-floor apartment in the Center City building at 47 W. Fourth St, according to city police.

Responding to the six-story high-rise apartment building just before 11 p.m., city firefighters and police were told that a fire had been intentionally set by “a drunken bald man” on the third floor, according to an affidavit.

A small pile of debris had been set on fire in the hallway, but someone had already put it out using a portable fire extinguisher, according to investigators.

A second tenant who lives next Cover had called 911 to report that he was trapped, unable to leave his apartment “due to a fire outside his door,” it was stated.

City fire Platoon Chief Sherman Heaster said all tenants on the third floor were safely evacuated from the building for about an hour.

Cover, who lives in apartment 306, opened his door when police arrived on the scene and told them “This happens when I cook food,” the affidavit stated.

He then slammed the door and barricaded himself in the apartment until officers forced their way in and took him into custody, police said.

The tenant who was trapped in his apartment said he had a “history” of issues with Cover.

The fire caused no substantial damage, Heaster said.

There was very serious potential that this fire could have had a catastrophic result as a result of someone setting a fire in a multi-unit apartment building when many tenants may be getting ready for bed or already asleep, investigators said.

Several police officers were needed to restrain Cover, who had to be carried out of the building after he was tased.

Arraigned before District Judge William Solomon about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Cover claimed during the proceeding that he was the one who put out the fire.

Charged with arson endangering persons, causing or risking catastophe, both felonies, plus recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, false imprisonment and disorderly conduct, Cover was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.