LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
A Las Vegas man, who was arrested after a brief chase with police, was accused of setting fire to playground equipment and threatening anyone who tried to stop him with a knife.
Las Vegas Metro police said Jamal James Thues, 35, was arrested Sunday morning at a housing complex in the 500 block of N. Lamb Boulevard.
According to an arrest report, Thues was seen by residents at the complex lighting strings and a slide of a playground on the property.
In the report, when police arrived, Thues tried to flee the area but was quickly caught by officers.
In questioning following his arrest, Thues told police he was lighting some string with a small Bic lighter when he was confronted by a couple who was at the complex, according to the report.
Thues said, in the report, the couple screamed at him to stop, and he told them that he was minding his own business.
However, in the report, the couple involved in the incident told police that they saw Thues light the slide on fire and they immediately went out to extinguish the flames with water.
According to the couple, in the report, Thues yelled at them and pulled out a pocket knife, threatening the man and woman.
The couple also said Thues bumped chests with the woman in a threatening manner, according to the arrest report.
The couple stepped away from Thues and told him they were calling police.
In investigating the scene, police, in the arrest report, found burn marks on two slides, as well as on the ends of a jump rope. Police said the burns appeared to be fresh.
Thues was transported to the Clark County Detention Center on counts of third degree arson and assault with a deadly weapon.
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