Hours-long standoff ends with arrest after police say man set fire to his home

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Police arrested a man Tuesday after an hours-long standoff in Cobb County that began when investigators say he intentionally set fire to his own home.

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The incident happened on Wandering Vine Drive in Mableton, where families woke up to smoke and fire trucks outside their homes.

Cobb County police said firefighters put out the blaze, but the man inside the home refused to come outside, prompting officers to establish a perimeter and evacuate nearby homes.

Neighbors said the situation was frightening, with some families unable to return home for hours.

“I wasn’t able to get my daughter to school,” neighbor Lizann Destin said. “Then they came — we had SWAT in our backyard. We had SWAT in front of the door.”

Police used several tactics to try to safely get the man out of the home. After several hours, officers ended the standoff and arrested him.

Sgt. Eric Smith, a Cobb County police spokesperson, said investigators determined the fire was intentionally set.

Smith said he could not comment on the man’s mental health, but said a large number of officers were needed because of the equipment and tactics involved in safely resolving the situation.

“I just know as far as the way the team operates in order to operate all the equipment and do it as safely as possible, we have an abundance of officers on scene,” Smith said.

Neighbors said they were relieved the standoff ended without further harm.

“There have been some serious incidents similar to this in the last few months in the Atlanta area, and I just want them to get him some help,” neighbor Phyllis Dent said.

Police have not released additional details about the suspect or potential charges.

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