The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal has arrested a man accused of setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s house, her father’s truck and her parents’ house.
35 year old Blake Ceaser was booked with one count each of aggravated arson, simple arson, arson by injury and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling along with three counts of criminal trespassing.
Investigator say on March 9 just before noon, St. Landry Fire District 3 called upon the State Fire Marshal’s Office to assist in determining the origin and cause of a house fire in the 200 block of Frilot Cove Road in Opelousas.
The homeowner was not home but a neighbor told investigators she saw the owner’s ex-boyfriend, beating and trying to kick in the door just minutes before seeing the fire.
There was heavy fire damage throughout the exterior of the home and heavy smoke damage on the interior, investigators said.
The fire was determined to be incendiary and a warrant was issued for Ceaser’s arrest, but investigators say he could not be located.
In the overnight hours of May 4, a vehicle fire was reported in the 200 block of L’Anse De Cavalier Road in Ville Platte. The damage was to a Chevy pickup truck and was limited to the rear of the truck’s exterior.
Investigators also classified the case as incendiary.
They say the truck’s owner who was also the father of the March fire victim, had lived at the Ville Platte home since her house was set on fire.
Ceaser was named as the suspect in the case and the search for his whereabouts continued.
On May 27, just after 1 a.m., the Ville Platte Fire Department requested assistance investigating, this time, a house fire at the same property in the 200 block of L’Anse De Cavalier Road.
The origin of the fire was determined to be just below a bedroom window A/C unit.
Investigators say there were eight people in the home at the time of the fire.
A female victim from the March fire told investigators she was sleeping when she smelled gasoline coming through her window unit.
She told investigators when she got up to check out the source, she found a fire and put it out with a hose also telling investigators that when she went to call 911, she saw seven missed calls from a blocked number.
The victim stated Ceaser has continued to harass her and her family since her house fire in March, despite her having an active protective order against him.
35 year old Blake Ceaser was booked with one count each of aggravated arson, simple arson, arson by injury and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling along with three counts of criminal trespassing.
He surrendered himself Saturday at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office accompanied by his attorney.
He was transferred to the St. Landry Parish Jail the following Monday.
