Man in custody after barricading self, setting fire to house

A man upset over a pending divorce was rescued from the backyard of a Henderson house he was barricaded in for three hours after he set it on fire, authorities said.

Henderson Police spokesman Keith Paul said officers responded at 1:54 p.m. to the home on Hyssop Court, which is near Burkholder Boulevard and Racetrack Road.

Officers evacuated a handful of homes in the area while authorities tried to get the 39-year-old man to come out peacefully.

Police said the man was "despondent" over a divorce and broke into the house of his estranged wife. The man, whose name wasn't available Friday night, had moved out of the house in June, police said.

Paul said the man at one point had threatened to shoot officers if they got near him, but eventually told negotiators he would come out of the house and surrender.

After police hadn't heard from the man in some time, they noticed smoke coming from the house. Paul said authorities believe the man set fire to the house, then ran to the backyard, where he was rescued and taken into custody.

Authorities said the man had self-inflicted wounds and was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where his condition wasn't known Friday night.

Paul said police initially responded to the scene after receiving a report from the man's father. Police also believe the man started a smaller fire at the home earlier in the day.

Paul said the man likely would face arson charges.

Because access to Cinnamon Ridge Way and Balinese Avenue was blocked off, neighbors pulled over on Burkholder Boulevard and Pueblo Boulevard to watch the fire as they waited for police to allow them into the area.

Thomas Zmyewski, a resident on Bussora Rose Drive, moved into the neighborhood in April and said he was surprised at what was happening. But, he said, “If there’s a situation where there’s danger, then I’m glad [the police] are doing their job and not letting me get in the line of fire."