Mesa County authorities have arrested a 46-year-old man after they say he doused his mobile home with gasoline and ignited it Sunday night, injuring his wife.
Laurance Tiffin was booked into the county jail on suspicion of first-degree assault, first-degree arson, felony menacing and domestic violence. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office said Tiffin is from the town of Mack, northwest of Grand Junction.
Deputies were called out to the mobile home about 7:45 p.m. Sunday, where they determined Tiffin and his wife were arguing when he allegedly poured gasoline inside the home.
“His wife attempted to stop him, and when they struggled over the gas can, gasoline spilled on her,” the sheriff’s office said in a Monday news release. “When she told Tiffin she would call 911, Tiffin allegedly ignited the gasoline.”
When Tiffin’s wife went to put out the fire, she didn’t realize she had some gasoline spilled on her, authorities say. She was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction with second-degree burns to her feet, legs and arms.
“Investigators determined she was not intentionally doused with gasoline,” the release said.
The case remains under investigation.
