A Morganton man douses his home with gasoline, and sets it on fire with himself and his five children inside.

A release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office states 37-year-old Floyd Elmer Tate the fourth had poured the gasoline inside his Pritchard Drive mobile home and locked himself and the children inside the home before igniting the blaze.

However, when deputies arrived Tate was outside the residence and had reportedly extinguished the fire.

Officers detected a strong odor of gasoline upon entering the home as they proceeded to remove the children ages 5 to 12. 

The Burke County Fire Marshal’s office responded to the scene in order to collect suspected arson evidence.

Tate was then charged with felony arson, misdemeanor communicating threats, and misdemeanor child abuse.

He was detained in the Burke-Catawba Confinement Facility under a 100-thousand-dollar secured bond.

Glen Alpine Police and West End Fire-Rescue assisted at the scene.

Two Morganton men attempt breaking and entering a newly-constructed home Wednesday evening.

20-year-old Preston Luke Collingwood of Waterford Way and 20-year-old Samuel Lee Keller of Pea Ridge Road were spotted covering the home’s security cameras according to a news release.

Whenever deputies with the Burke Sheriff’s Office arrived, the two suspects were observed on the home’s back patio at 2063 West Bluewater Drive.

Lawmen ordered the two to lie down – Collingwood complied with the officer’s command; however, Keller initially ran but later laid down in the yard.

A trash bag Keller was carrying contained the lockbox for the house with the key inside.

The pair was arrested and each charged with attempted breaking and entering, misdemeanor larceny, and receiving stolen goods or property.

Both Collingwood and Keller were transported to the Burke-Catawba confinement facility, with each under a 10-thousand dollar secured bond.

Both will appear in court July 17^th.

A Marion man is charged with strangling his wife during a domestic dispute.

45-year-old Travis Ray Mace of 399 Old Morganton Road allegedly assaulted and choked his pregnant wife while the two were arguing.

The McDowell Sheriff’s Office charged Mace with assault by strangulation,

He was also served with outstanding warrants for assault on a female and battery of an unborn child.

An all-terrain vehicle accident Tuesday evening proved fatal for a Claremont man.

Reports with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Department say 21-year-old Josh Helms was riding with friends off Edwards Road whenever he crashed into a tree on the ATV.

Helms was pronounced deceased at Catawba Valley Med Center.

Sheriff’s reports state he was not wearing a helmet.