Bloomington police arrested a man Monday on preliminary charges of attempted murder, battery and arson after they say he attempted to set two people on fire.
The police and fire departments responded to a fire in the 1600 block of N. Willis just before 1 a.m. Monday. When they arrived, they saw flames coming from a trailer.
Police discovered two victims who escaped the blaze with minor injuries. The 44-year-old woman and her 22-year-old son told police John Lawrence Jr. set the trailer on fire and also tried to set them on fire. They say Lawrence hit the woman in the face before yelling and then pouring rubbing alcohol in the trailer and on them. They say he used a blow torch to start the blaze.
Officers found Lawrence hiding in a drainage culvert about one block away from the fire. Police say he admitted to threatening and attacking the victims. Lawrence told police he felt threatened by the woman and her son.
Lawrence is being held at the Monroe County Jail.