Cedar Rapids man caught before lighting truck on fire

CEDAR RAPIDS - Police said they caught a Cedar Rapids man just before he attempted to light a truck on fire.

According to the Linn County Attorney's Office and Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow, Cedar Rapids police officers were called to 1237 Center Street NE at 5:34 p.m. Sunday for a report of a disturbance. When police arrived on the scene, they found 51-year-old Richard Eicke, the resident, pouring gas on a 1996 Chevrolet truck valued at more than $500.

Police ordered Eicke to drop the gas can and he did.

Eicke - who was carrying two lighters - told police he intended to set the truck on fire. Police said Eicke was angry at the truck's owner over payment for a job. The truck is owned by a construction company, Buelow said.

Eicke was arrested and has been charged with second-degree arson, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

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