MAN ARRESTED ON ARSON CHARGES: PETALUMAN SUSPECTED OF SETTING FIRE TO HIS OWN APARTMENT

A Petaluma man, who firefighters initially thought was trapped inside his apartment during a two-alarm blaze Thursday night, was later arrested for suspected arson, police and fire officials said.

Gerald Charles Jr., 29, made statements to authorities that he had poured gasoline inside the apartment and then turned on the stove and left. The resulting explosion and fire gutted the two-story unit he shared with his mother and brother and displaced a next-door neighbor, according to Petaluma Fire Department officials.

The blaze started shortly before 7p.m. at the Baywood Arms on Baywood Drive in southeast Petaluma, Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Holden said. Charles' brother, who was in the vicinity but not at home, thought his brother was trapped inside and tried to chop his way in through a wall to free him before firefighters raised a ladder to the second floor, officials said.

It turned out that Charles already had gotten out of the apartment. Police found him nearby, his hair and clothing singed, authorities said.

He was arrested on suspected arson and was taken to the Sonoma County Jail, where he remained in custody Friday with bail of $60,000, jail personnel said.

His apartment was in a row of five two-story units with a common attic in the multi-building complex north of Lakeville Highway, Holden said.

Firefighters cut into the attic to prevent flames from spreading, causing damage to the apartment next door, in addition to windows that had blown out.

Holden said the next-door neighbor went to stay with relatives.

The Charles family also declined assistance, he said.

Holden estimated damage to their apartment at $100,000.

You can reach Staff Writer

Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com.