NewsLocal NewsIn Your Parish

Actions

Opelousas man booked with arson after family home burns

Posted at 4:39 PM, Feb 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-07 19:56:32-05

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has arrested an Opelousas man for setting a fire inside of his family’s home.

Amad Redding, 26, was injured in the fire. He was booked Wednesday with two counts of simple arson.

Amad Redding
Courtesy Louisiana State Fire Marshal

Redding is accused of starting a fire at his home on South Main Street on January 21, a release from the state Fire Marshal states.

Redding was the only one home at the time of the fire, and suffered third-degree burns to his hands, the release states.

A building next door also was damaged, the release states.

Investigators determined that the fire started in a dining room, and through witness statements investigators learned Redding allegedly admitted being responsible for the fire and his injuries. Deputies also learned Redding had made recent threats to relatives to set the home on fire.

Following Redding’s hospitalization for his burn injuries, he was transferred to a mental health facility in New Orleans.

Subsequent to his release from that facility on February 6, Redding was taken into custody and booked into the Orleans Parish Jail before being transferred to the St. Landry Parish Jail.