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Officers responding to a disturbance report in the 900 block of Carlton Avenue in Bethlehem were told by a woman that her son had just doused her car in gasoline and tried to set it on fire shortly before 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, police said.
The woman’s son, identified as George Dimitrios Papaiannou, then fled into a nearby home, where another family member was found, Bethlehem Police said.
Officers had safely evacuated the home and were trying to convince Papaiannou to surrender when they saw that a fire had been started inside the home, authorities said.
The fire spread to other parts of the home as officers tried unsuccessfully to douse it with a fire extinguisher.
Papaiannou eventually exited the home and was hospitalized for injuries before being taken into custody.
The Bethlehem Fire Department arrived at the scene and safely extinguished the blaze.
Papaiannou was charged with arson, endangering property, criminal attempt at reckless burning or exploding, risking a catastrophe, terroristic threats, and recklessly endangering another person.
The incident remained under investigation, police said. Additional details were not released.
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