Jerrod Lynn Ward
(PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A 38-year-old Cushing man accused of setting fire to grass in and around his residence has been jailed on $20,000 bail pending his arraignment Thursday on a third-degree arson charge.
If convicted of setting fire to grass in the 2400 block of E. 5th in rural Cushing, Jerrod Lynn Ward could be given as much as a 15-year prison term and a $10,000 fine, according to the felony charge filed last week.
Ward was arrested on Oct. 26 at 9:34 pm by Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Wheeler, who had been sent to the area of Ward’s residence at 5:13 pm “for a fire, which was possibly caused by arson,” according to his affidavit.
“Upon my arrival, the fire had already been extinguished by Cushing Fire Department,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
“I was flagged down by a witness,” who said he saw smoke and fire from his residence, the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
The neighbor said that he saw two separate grass fires in Ward’s yard, one in the front and another on the side near the driveway and carport, the affidavit said.
The neighbor said, “he immediately called 911 and began to put the fire out,” the affidavit said.
He said, “he observed his neighbor, Jerrod Ward, walking eastbound on 5th Street, ‘completely out of it,"” the affidavit alleged.
He said, “he was screaming at Jerrod asking him what’s going on and if he is okay. (He) stated Jerrod never replied and kept walking,” crossing the electric fence to the south of K.W. Well Services, the affidavit alleged.
The neighbor said that after he lost sight of the defendant, a few minutes later “he observed black smoke rising above the trees,” the affidavit alleged.
When the neighbor returned to the defendant’s residence, he said, “Jerrod walked to the carport and sat down,” the affidavit alleged.
After the neighbor asked what was going on, the defendant finally replied, “I don’t know,” the affidavit alleged.
“Jerrod asked me, ‘What did I do?"” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
“I informed him there had been a few small fires and his (relative) was worried about him. Jerrod turned around and placed his hands behind his back. I informed him that he was not under arrest at this point,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
“I asked Jerrod if he had been drinking. He replied saying, ‘Yeah, I drank a little, but I didn’t go nowhere. I pointed out the two spots of grass that were charred black from the fire.
“Jerrod admitted he had lit the fires. I asked him how he started the fires. He replied saying ‘With a lighter.’
“I then asked him why he set the fires. He replied saying, ‘I tried to set this house on fire,"” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
“I asked him why. He stated, ‘I am just sick of it’ and ‘I got people f…… with me.’
“Jerrod did not know who it was that was messing with him but said he was just sick of it.
“Jerrod informed me he is just having a hard time,” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
“At this point in time, I informed Jerrod he was now under arrest for arson and public intoxication.
“All actions were captured on my department-issued Axon Body Camera,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
