Tyler man charged with arson after allegedly setting car on fire

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, August 22, 2024

From Staff Reports

A Tyler man is facing a felony arson charge after allegedly setting his wife’s car on fire, police said.

Justin Kennedy Hillard, 36, was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on Wednesday on a second-degree felony charge of arson. Hillard is accused of setting his wife’s vehicle on fire following an argument on Aug. 16, according to an arrest affidavit.

The incident occurred at an RV park in the 8500 block of Farm-to-Market Road 14, where Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue was called to investigate a vehicle fire. When firefighters from Smith County Emergency Services District 2 got there, they found Hillard attempting to put out the flames with a garden hose.

The vehicle’s owner, identified as Hillard’s wife, told authorities her husband had poured gasoline on the vehicle during an argument while he was intoxicated. She managed to escape before he allegedly set the car on fire, police said.

Hillard fled the scene on foot before fire crews arrived, according to the affidavit. The damages to the vehicle were consistent with being deliberately set on fire after gasoline was applied, the fire marshal reported.

An arrest warrant was issued for Hillard on Tuesday, and he turned himself in to authorities Wednesday.