Man Charged With Setting Fire At House With 7 People Inside

CASSOPOLIS, Mich. (AP) — Investigators say a man in southwestern Michigan set a fire at a house while two women and five children were inside.

A confrontation between the man and firefighters gave the group an opportunity to escape from the house on Tuesday night in Cass County's Howard Township, 60 miles southwest of Kalamazoo.

Daniel Thornton is charged with arson, assault and other crimes. He's asked for a court-appointed lawyer and remains in jail on a $150,000 bond.

The Cass County sheriff's office says there are allegations that Thornton tried to trap the women by nailing a bedroom door shut.

Fire