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Police: Heavily Intoxicated Man Arrested After Trying To Light Girlfriend's House On Fire

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A gas can was sitting outside a home on Conrad Avenue in North Charleroi.

Witnesses told Charleroi Police they came to the home early Monday morning after 34-year-old Bryan Stotka sent them a text message, saying he covered his girlfriend's house in gasoline and was going to burn it.

"They came over out of concern and then a physical altercation happened when they tried to stop him," said Charleroi Regional Police Chief Eric Porter.

According to the criminal complaint, when the witnesses went inside the home to try to stop Stotka from burning it, they found him asleep in the living room with a gas can next to him.

Police say the living room floor was covered with gasoline.

"They stopped him before anything really bad happened," said Porter.

The witnesses told police Stotka was using a cigarette lighter to try to ignite the gasoline. Police arrived at the home just after 4 a.m. and took Stotka, who was heavily intoxicated, into custody.

"Not very often someone tries to light their house, especially with them inside," said Porter.

Stotka has a $100,000 straight cash bond.

He faces several charges, including criminal attempt, causing or risking catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person.

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