Huntsville man charged with arson after pouring gasoline on outside of apartment building

The Huntsville Police Department said on Sunday, around 6:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a possible disturbance in the 4500 block of Bonnell Drive.

While officers were en route, additional information provided indicated that the suspect, later identified as Cedrick Demon Allen, was pouring gasoline on the exterior of an apartment building “with the intent to set it on fire.”

Officers arrived on the scene and HPD said they saw clear evidence that a fire had been ignited on the outside of the building. No injuries were reported, but the department said the occupied building had damage from the fire.

During the investigation, officers learned that the suspect had fled to a nearby apartment shortly after starting the fire. Officers located and detained Allen, 43, of Huntsville.

Further investigation determined that Allen had been involved in an argument just before burning the building.

Allen was charged with first-degree arson and booked into the Madison County Jail, where he is being held without bond at this time.