A Lawton man is facing charges after a weekend arson. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department tells us firefighters were sent to a home in the 29,000 block of 62nd Avenue in Antwerp Township around 7:40 p.m. Sunday on a report of a structure fire. When responders from the Lawton Fire Department arrived, they found a couch inside the home was on fire. They then learned of a man at the scene who reportedly had tried to stab himself with a small knife. When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found the man waving a large butane lighter and making threats. He was subdued by police and firefighters and taken into custody. Police say it appears the couch in the home was intentionally set on fire, and they also found a van at the property had all of its windows smashed out. The 35-year-old suspect was taken to the Van Buren County jail on two outstanding warrants , and the case will be referred to the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office.
