Cedar Rapids man Charged with Arson in Dubuque

Police said a man started a small fire outside a Dubuque residence after threatening to “burn this place down.” 25-year-old Marquez M. Williams of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was arrested at 4:34 p.m. Wednesday in the 2200 block of Twin Valley Drive on a charge of first-degree arson. Court documents state that police and firefighters responded at approximately 2:58 p.m. to the 1500 block of Iowa Street for a report of a small fire outside of a residence. An occupant of an apartment of the residence told police he had called 911 after smelling gasoline outside and seeing a man he knew as “Mikey” standing next to the fire. The building occupant told police the man had been dating the occupant’s sister and was upset when she was no longer in the residence. Williams denied any involvement with the fire and told authorities he would have no reason to start a fire. The blaze was minor and was limited to some leaves on the ground.