Suspected car arsonist apprehended - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

Suspected car arsonist apprehended while sitting on vehicle eating peanut butter

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Cody Duane Allen (Source: Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center) Cody Duane Allen (Source: Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center)
The scene (Source: Mary King) The scene (Source: Mary King)

A man accused of setting fire to a truck at a Columbia dealership was apprehended a short distance away sitting on top of another vehicle eating from a jar of peanut butter, according to police.

Columbia Police say Cody Duane Allen has been charged with third degree arson and malicious injury to property after setting a $50,000 truck on fire and damaging several other vehicles at Dick Smith Automotive on Two Notch Road.

The incident happened on Thursday around 4 a.m.

Allen allegedly used a paper bag to set fire to the truck. Heat from the fire then caused damage to an adjacent car in the parking lot, investigators said.

Police said Allen also used a brick to break the windows of at least seven new vehicles causing at least $10,500 in damages 

He was arrested on the dealership's property after being found sitting on top of another vehicle eating from a jar of peanut butter.

He was transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

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