Dec. 13--CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- A man first had to be awakened Sunday to escape a fire he caused, then ended up in handcuffs.
A neighbor to the mobile home at 700 W. Ridgeway Ave. Lot 407 saw smoke at about 4 p.m. and called 911.
According to court records, a police officer arrived at the scene and entered to find resident Michael Gibson, 24, asleep on a couch near the fire. He awakened Gibson and got him out of the house.
Firefighters found a small fire burning in the floor near the couch and worked to extinguish it. Gibson got out without injury, but police report said he was intoxicated.
As the firefighters worked to put out the fire and investigate the cause, Gibson became agitated and began yelling and swearing loudly at police and firefighters. He entered the home and disrupted the fire investigation, disobeying the orders of fire officials.
Eventually Gibson was arrested for willful disturbance, a serious misdemeanor.
Officials said the fire was caused by a cigarette that dropped to the floor.
