Man burns self after threatening to set house on fire

Carpenter

UPDATE 8-16-16​:
Carpenter was scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. today to hear several additional charges filed against him: Arson with property damage at least $5,000; criminal recklessnss, destructive device or explosive;  intimidation; and manufacture, possess, transport distribute hoax or replica destructive device.
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UPDATE- Carpenter is scheduled to appear in court Nov.21 at 9 a.m.
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Original story 8-5-16
Thadias "Jack" Carpenter was arrested Tuesday on several burglary-related charges pending from last month, after just being released from medical care in an Indianapolis hospital for self -inflicted burn wounds he suffered when returning to a residence he had earlier allegedly broken into and  threatened to burn down.

Carpenter, 22, of Terre Haute, was arrested on a warrant and was booked into the Vigo County Jail at 1:45 p.m., where he is charged with burglary- a level 2 felony; intimidation- a level 6 felony; and criminal recklessness - a level 6 felony.

According to the report, officers of the Terre Haute Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 2900 block of Crawford Street the afternoon of July 6 after Carpenter allegedly broke into the home through a basement window. He reportedly began making threats to the residents while armed with an 8 - inch butcher knife. He was also allegedly threatening to burn the house down with a propane torch.

One resident, the suspect's grandfather, informed officers that he had heard the suspect breaking into  the basement through a window in the rear of the house. He  tried to hold the door closed, but the suspect pushed past him and began yelling at him in the kitchen.

According to the probable cause affidavit prepared by THPD Detective Farron Stevens, the grandfather had recently obtained a protective order against the suspect due to ongoing threats and theft. On this particular day, Carpenter was allegedly threatening to burn family photos and then warned  if the victim called police, he would burn the house down. At that point, the victim ran outside and alerted a neighbor to the danger inside the residence.

The neighbor informed police at the scene that the suspect was in the kitchen and swung a knife at him as well. Carpenter continued yelling threats and demanding money. 

"If you call the cops, I will burn the house down and pull a gun out from my backpack so they will have to kill me," Carpenter allegedly yelled out, according to the document. He allegedly grabbed the victim's insulin pen and threatened to kill himself with it as well. The neighbor quickly went to grab a ball bat for protection. The victim called 911.

Police arriving at the scene evacuated the residents and were informed by those in the home that when the suspect's mother came into the house carrying a small child during the ordeal, Carpenter went "berzerk." He allegedly got in the child's face and yelled as loud as he could. He also allegedly threatened to kill the family dog.

By the time the neighbor returned with his ball bat, Carpenter reportedly had fled the scene without shoes on and evaded police until he returned to the residence about six days later, on July 12, and  had gasoline in the kitchen. According to his grandparents, the suspect lit himself on fire causing second degree burns from his waist to his neck, requiring him to be airlifted to a burn unit in Indianapolis.

When talking with other witnesses during the July 6 incident, including the suspect's mother and grandmother, investigation revealed more threats were made by Carpenter. The suspect reportedly said he would take anything of value from the residence he wanted. He allegedly threatened to destroy a 200 -year- old Bible and seized all the cell phones in the house.

"Now you can't call police," Carpenter is alleged to have said.

Carpenter remains held on $75,000 bond, no 10 percent allowed. His scheduled hearing in Vigo Superior Court 1 has been postponed from this morning until Monday at 9 a.m.  before Judge John Roach. The change was requested by the suspect's lawyer, Jessie Cook. Roach has ordered no contact for the suspect with the victim and neighbor.

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