A Janesville man was arrested Thursday after arming himself with a knife, damaging property and setting a house on fire, police say.
Around 2 p.m., Janesville officers responded to reports of a disturbance at a house along the 3600 block of Birdsong Lane. On the way, officers learned that a man was armed with a knife and breaking things inside the house, according to a social media post by the Janesville Police Department.
People inside the house were able to safely leave before police arrived, the post indicated. Officers said Joshua Kaster, 29, of Janesville broke several windows at the house before heading into the backyard, which was surrounded by a privacy fence. Officers said they attempted to talk to Kaster — who was still armed with a knife — while he was outside. Kaster reportedly told the officers they would have to kill him and that he was going to set the house on fire, the post said.