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NORTH SALT LAKE — A man who was dragged from a burning North Salt Lake house on Monday told police he intentionally started the fire and he knew the nine puppies were in the house when he started the blaze, according to court documents.
Jason Mathew Cobb, 42, was arrested for investigation of aggravated arson and nine counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal, according to jail booking statement.
Police arrived at the house fire on Orchard Drive Monday evening and found Cobb, who regained consciousness after a neighbor dragged him out of the home.
Police said Cobb was agitated and told them he was "nuts," according to probable cause documents. Cobb told officers he started the fire in an attempt to take his own life, police say. In court documents, police said Cobb "appeared to be under the influence of an illegal substance."
Police said as they were talking to Cobb, they saw firefighters take nine puppies out of the home. Efforts to resuscitate the dogs failed. Cobb was taken to University of Utah Hospital.
Two officers visited Cobb at the hospital and said after they advised him of his rights, he was willing to speak with them, according to the affidavit.
Police say Cobb told them he used a pressurized can and a flammable liquid to start the fire, lighting his bed on fire.
"Jason told officers that he was hearing voices and was on crystal meth which he smoked earlier that day," the affidavit states. Investigators obtained a search warrant and located a burnt can in the pile of bed springs once part of Cobb's bed.
Arson investigators said there were obvious signs of spilled accelerant on the remains of the carpet in Cobb's bedroom. North Salt Lake police collected the items and booked them into evidence.
"Jason's room in the basement was badly damaged due to the fire," the probable cause statement says.
Cobb was treated at the hospital and then booked into the Davis County Jail on Tuesday.
