KPTV - FOX 12Police say intruder tried to set fire to neighbor's home

Police say intruder tried to set fire to neighbor's home

Longview police say a man barged into his neighbor's home and tried to set it on fire. Officers say the suspected intruder, Douglas Mayhugh, was booked on charges of burglary and arson.

Officers say his father called 911 Sunday night to report his son had barricaded himself inside his bedroom, but when police arrived he had already left. Neighbors say he ran up 38th Avenue, banging on doors until he finally got inside a house.

"It was rather unusual," said Louise Commerford, who found the man at her back door.

"He said his father was being held hostage and he needed to call the police. Then he kind of pushed his way into the house," said Commerford.

Commerford says her husband went outside and she followed. They were met by an officer on their driveway. Multiple 911 calls had been made as the suspect worked his way up her street.

"(The officer) said, 'I talked to your neighbors, and both of you have got to go next door and stay with your neighbors until all of this is cleared up,'" described Commerford.

Police say Mayhugh at first refused to come outside of the home and ended up torching part of their living room.

"He rolled up the papers and set the floor on fire and broke the drapes over there, burned up curtains, but it didn't destroy the house, so we're happy about that," said Commerford. "And it didn't destroy us, so we're happy about that. Everything else can be taken care of."

Police say Mayhugh eventually surrendered and was found with some marijuana, which he told officers may have been laced with something else, according to a spokesman.

The suspect's family declined to speak with Fox 12, but Mayhugh is expected in court later this month to be arraigned. Meanwhile, the Commerfords must now repair the damage done to their home, but they say they're just thankful the house is still standing and no one was hurt.

"I was disappointed, but as long as we have our health and house, everything else can be repaired," said Commerford. 

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