Lawton man accused of tryng to burn down his house with woman inside

There has to be a better way than setting fire to your own house to get an unwanted guest out.

Or so you would think.

A 29-year-old Lawton man is free on $7,500 bond after admitting to doing just that, according to police.

Devin Pollard made his initial appearance Friday in Comanche County District Court where he was charged with fourth-degree arson, records indicate. The crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Lawton police and fire were called shortly after 8 p.m. Dec. 5 to 2312 SW I on the report of a fire. Officer Craig McAlhaney spoke with a woman who said Pollard had started the fire. Pollard was still inside the home looking out the window. According to the probable cause affidavit, Pollard came outside and explained he’d set the fire.

The woman told police Pollard had poured gasoline on the door of the room she was in and lit it. She said he told her it was his house and he could burn it down with her inside, the affidavit states.

Pollard then denied setting the fire and blamed the woman. He said he’d only lit a piece of paper on fire, according to the affidavit. Fire Marshal Heath Want told McAlhaney if the woman had started the fire, she’d have burned her hands and she didn’t have that type of injury.

Want then interviewed the woman. The woman had recorded video of Pollard smashing the door with a chair before calling 911, the affidavit states. Want told McAlhaney there was evidence in the house Pollard had moved a dresser from the hallway to near the door where the fire was ignited.

Questioned again, Pollard admitted to starting the fire using gasoline that he poured and ignited using a burning piece of paper, according to the affidavit.

As part of his bond conditions, Pollard is to have no contact with the woman and is to undergo a mental health evaluation. Records indicate he returns to court at 3 p.m. Jan. 8, 2024, for his preliminary hearing conference.