Jimmy Edward Harris, 30, faces charges of third-degree arson, assault on a police officer, resisting an officer, and interfering with a fireman.
According to court records, Sequoyah County Sheriff's Deputy Randy Gann was dispatched to the scene of a grass fire one mile west of U.S. Highway 64B on new Hope Road on Sept. 24. Firefighters with the Maple Fire Department reported that Harris allegedly would not allow the firefighters to gain access into a burning field to extinguish an out-of-control fire.
Gann reported that firefighters said Harris refused to let the firefighters and trucks enter the property, owned by Dewayne Fair. Each time firefighters attempted to enter the property at a wire gap entrance, Harris would allegedly put the fence back up and stand in the entrance way.
Harris' mother allowed the firefighters on the property, and the firefighters reported that Harris began running through the burning field. Gann later saw Harris running from the field into the yard of his home.
When Gann attempted to arrest Harris, Harris allegedly jumped on the front porch of his home, ran into his home, and closed the doors. Harris allegedly refused to come outside.
"I then walked up on the front porch and again ordered Jimmy to come outside and that he was under arrest, but he refused and told me I needed a warrant," Gann wrote in his report. Gann then walked inside the front door of the residence and attempted to walk him outside when he broke loose and attempted to run inside the house.
Gann eventually gained control of Harris and transported him to the county jail. On the way to the jail, Gann reported that Harris admitted that he always set that field on fire because the grass gets too high and the property owner knew he burned the field all the time.
