Man charged after repeatedly admitting to setting his trailer on fire

Article owned and originally published by WDTV 5 News on Apr. 30, 2024.

Original Article

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) - A Webster County man was charged after admitting to setting his home on fire and allegedly physically assaulting a fire fighter.

On Sunday, April 28th, police were called about a camper/residence on fire in the area of Rice Run Road in Webster county.

Webster County 911 issued a warning to the members of the Webster Springs Fire Department that 39-year-old Aca Cowger was on scene and appeared to be intoxicated and acting erratically. Members of the WSFD were also advised that Cowger was the one who set fire to the residence.

When police arrived on scene, they saw members of the WSFD extinguishing what appeared to be a camper or trailer while a man with no shirt on waved his hands about erratically near them.

According to the criminal complaint, Cowger had shoved his shoulder into a fire fighter while they were attempting to extinguish the flame, and then pulled back a closed fist and attempted to strike the fire fighter before another fire fighter removed him from the area.

When officers tried to speak to Cowger he originally told them his name was Jeremy, before admitting his actual name was Aca Cowger.

Cowger did not want to speak to the Trooper on scene, and quickly began yelling and cursing.

Officers told him to stop and he refused, continuing to yell and scream, according to court documents.

Cowger was detained without incident, and while being transported he admitted to burning his home down multiple times, unprovoked by any questions from Troopers.

Police said that Cowger said multiple times during processing that he did, in fact, burn his camper down.

Aca Leewell Cowger is being held at CRJ on a bond of $24,500.