Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry City of Warren police and fire responded to a Pine Street address on July 3 on a report of an outdoor fire.

A Warren man is behind bars after swinging a plank at police in the wake of his son lighting their yard on fire trying to ignite sparklers with gasoline.

Charles D. Stone, 11 Pine St., was arrested and charged by City of Warren police on Saturday night.

The incident started when police were dispatched with City of Warren fire to the address on a report of “an outside fire close to a structure with exposures,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Police were told that EmergyCare was treating a juvenile male who “advised that while his parents were away, he attempted to start a fire with gasoline,” causing minor injuries.

Officers then went to the rear of the residence to speak with Stone. He confirmed that the juvenile and friends attempted to light the sparklers while he and his wife were out to dinner.

Police told Stone that the 14-year-old was “unable to care for all of the kids that were at the residence” and officers allege Stone then became agitated “and began pointing a 21-inch wooden plank” at a city police officer.

Police say they instructed Stone to put the plank down — he allegedly did not comply — and he then “swung the plank at officers within close proximity and raised it over his head.”

Officers attempted, they explain in the affidavit, to detain Stone but reported that he “physically resisted prompting officers to take (Stone) to the ground, near an open fire, in order to gain compliance.”

After he was taken into custody and Mirandized, Stone allegedly told police he had received a phone call regarding the fire. Stone said he returned home and attempted to stop it.

Police charged Stone with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Online court records show he was was arraigned at 10:15 a.m. on July 4 and placed in the Warren County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.