Roy Merritt was drunk when he tried to light his own duplex on fire Friday morning, according to police. No injuries were reported. Following a six-hour standoff, Washington County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man who attempted to set fire to his own duplex in Cedar Hills, police said Friday.
Roy Eugene Merritt, 47, was taken to the Washington County Jail on charges of arson and recklessly endangering, police said. His bail is set at $25,000.
Around 9 p.m. July 20, deputies responded to reports of a man trying to set fire to his duplex in the 12900-block of Southwest Gentry Lane, police said. Seeing smoke coming from the home, officers quickly evacuated nearby residents, police said.