Published: June 10, 2009 08:26 pm      

Waurika man faces arson charge after victim ignited

WAURIKA — A Waurika man was charged in Jefferson County District Court Friday with arson in the first degree, after he allegedly set fire to another person in a residence at 530 East A St.

If he is convicted on the charge, Scott Allen Black, 51, could face up to 35 years in prison.

Bail was set at $100,000 Friday, with Black remaining in custody in Jefferson County Jail. A July 7 court date has been set for a preliminary hearing.

The female victim was in critical condition Tuesday at the Oklahoma City Integris Burn Center, with second- and third-degree burns on 19 percent of her body, said Administrative Supervisor Daniel Smith.

According to his preliminary report, Waurika Police Chief Earnest Tolle arrived on scene at approximately 11:04 p.m. Thursday, June 4, having received a report someone at the residence had been burned.

“Upon arrival,” Tolle wrote, “a man known to me as Scott Black came outside and said, ‘Chief, she is in here.’”

Tolle went into the house to check on the condition of the victim, then contacted Waurika Volunteer Ambulance Service. The victim was taken to Jefferson County Hospital and was medi-flighted to Oklahoma City.

After hearing Brown’s account of what occurred, Tolle arrested Brown, who was first taken to Jefferson County Hospital for treatment of burns to his left hand, right wrist and left thigh, before being taken to Jefferson County Jail, where he was booked.

Tolle requested Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) come and handle the case.

OSBI Public Information Officer Jessica Brown said that Black was having a dispute with the victim. “At some point and time during the argument, Black poured gas on (the victim),” said Brown, noting that Black had set the victim on fire.

“He did help put the fire out,” Brown added.

According to the affidavit prepared by OSBI Agent Morris Stewart, during the argument, the victim picked up a gas can and poured some of the liquid onto a backpack. Black then allegedly told the victim, “If we are going to do this, let’s do it right.”

According to the affidavit, after Black said those words, he allegedly poured gas over the victim’s head and lit a cigarette lighter.



— News-Democrat Editor Jeff Kaley contributed to this story