Columbia man faces arson charge after allegedly setting couch cushion on fire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Police responded to a behavior problem Thursday after the caller told dispatch that her son was high on drugs and tried to set her house on fire.

When police arrived, they located Anthony Davis in a chair with a pocket knife in the driveway. Davis was then detained on an unrelated warrant.

During the investigation, Davis's family has him on video claiming "I'm trying to kill you guys." Davis can then be seen spraying the couch cushion with an aerosol can on video according to court documents.

Moments later, witnesses say that Davis left the house while smoke alarm was going off upstairs. One witness then showed the officer the couch cushion that had been set fire to and now was in the bathtub.

Davis is charged with 1st-degree attempted arson.

Davis was given no bond because "no monetary or non monetary conditions assure safety of community or victim."

Davis has a court date next Monday.