LG Man Arrested After Pouring Gas on Home

La Grange Police arrested a man who threatened to burn down his own house last Thursday, Jan. 21.

According to Police Chief David Gilbreath, the incident began two days before as a dispute between a tenant and landlord. Gilbreath said the accused, 71-year-old Shellie Hatch Jr., was renting his home in the 500 block of Guadalupe St. to a tenant. Hatch was living in a garage on the property, Gilbreath said.

The tenant called police on Jan. 19 to report that Hatch kept turning off the water at the meter and the hot water at the water heater. Gilbreath said that when police arrived, Hatch threatened to burn the house down with the tenant inside. Officers arrested him that day for making a terroristic threat.

Hatch was released from jail and returned to the home on Jan. 22.

“After he got out of jail, he went back to the residence, took a can of gasoline and began pouring it around the house,” Gilbreath said.

The tenant called police again, who quickly responded. They arrested Hatch that time for criminal retaliation. Hatch remains in custody at the Dan R. Beck Justice Center in La Grange.