MORGANTON, N.C. — Officials say a man tried to set a home on fire while five children were locked inside.
Deputies responded to a mobile home park on Pritchard Drive after a 911 caller advised that a man, later identified as 37-year-old Floyd Tate IV, poured gasoline in the mobile home, locked himself and five kids in the house and set it on fire.
When deputies arrived, the mobile home was not on fire and the caller and suspect were outside, according to a news release.
When the deputy made entry into the home, he smelled a strong odor of gasoline and got the five children, ages 5-12, out of the home, according to a news release.
Deputies say the investigation revealed that Tate poured gasoline in the mobile home and lit it but then extinguished the fire before it caused too much damage.
Tate was arrested and charged with arson, communicating threats and child abuse. He was given a $100,000 secured bond.
