HUFFMAN

HARMAN — A Randolph County man is facing a felony charge after allegedly setting an illegal fire as a “fire offering to God.”

Emanuel Arthur Huffman, 35, is charged with one count of arson — setting fire on lands, a felony. He was being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $30,000 cash-only bond that has since been posted.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Corporal B.M. Roy with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on May 16, Roy, along with Deputy A.G. Vanscoy and West Virginia State Trooper H.J. Bonetti, responded to Gatehouse Lane in Harman to assist the Harman Volunteer Fire Department with a subject who was “obstructing them” while they fought a fire.

Randolph County 911 dispatched the Harman Volunteer Fire Department after receiving a call regarding a tree that was on fire, the complaint states. The department was further informed that the initial caller reported hearing a “loud explosion” and then saw the flames outside.

Upon the officers’ arrival, Roy spoke with firefighter Adam Snyder, who stated that Huffman had allegedly approached him and told Snyder to not put out the fire, the complaint states. Snyder reportedly said that Huffman had threatened to retrieve a firearm. Assistant Fire Chief S. Shomo led Roy to the origin of the fire and as they approached, Roy writes that he could smell an odor “consistent with gasoline.”

Once at the spot, Roy observed a burn line leading back to a red gas can located near the fire, the complaint states. He also observed a group of tree limbs that had been burning along the river bank from the property on Gatehouse Lane, traveling along the bank to behind a camper on Huffman Loop. There was also a large tree on the property line that had been burning in close proximity to the camper on Huffman Loop.

Roy then spoke to the owners of the camper, who were renting the lot the fire was protruding into, the complaint states. Both subjects stated they had heard an explosion and then could see flames outside the windows of the camper. When they both exited the camper with their disabled son, they could smell a strong odor of gasoline.

Bonetti, who had been speaking to Huffman, informed Roy that Huffman had allegedly made comments about starting the fire for a “fire offering to God,” the complaint states. Huffman also reportedly admitted to starting the fire with a lighter and gasoline.

“Mr. Huffman started a fire to tree limbs on a bank that spread across two different properties,” Roy wrote in the criminal complaint. “Then obstructed firefighters when attempting to stop the spread and extinguish the fire. Mr. Huffman was charged for willingly, unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to lands and transported to Tygart Valley Regional Jail to await arraignment.”

When leaving the scene, Roy observed what appeared to be more burn lines throughout the field near the fire that was extinguished, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Roy was later informed to look at Huffman’s Facebook account. Roy reportedly observed a Facebook post by Huffman that stated, “The fire is lit come and give offerings to the fire let go of what is no good 4 u bring it burn it live a new life baptism by fire come on in the waters fine [sic].” Huffman also allegedly posted a video on Facebook of the fire trucks at the scene accompanied by loud music in the background.