By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Ricky Alan Shepherd

LEESBURG — A Leesburg man was recently arrested for allegedly trying to set a house on fire and making threats to law enforcement.

Ricky Alan Shepherd, 59, 4 EMS B6C Lane #21, Leesburg, is charged with attempted arson, a level 4 felony; intimidation, a level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor.

On Sept. 6, officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and North Webster Police Department responded to a report of a man attempting to set a residence in Leesburg on fire.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers saw Shepherd walking down a nearby road. According to court documents, Shepherd resisted being handcuffed while threatening to fight and kill the police.

A woman said Shepherd repeatedly walked through her yard and made obscene gestures. She also said Shepherd yelled racial slurs at a man who resided there.

The woman was later informed by an individual that Shepherd tried to burn down her house. The individual initially thought Shepherd made the story up, but Shepherd said to check around the woman’s house for the area he tried to burn. Shepherd showed the person evidence of a burnt plate and matches he left near the home. The plate was about six to eight inches away from the residence and 12 inches away from gas lines and other electrical equipment.

While being taken to a local hospital for medical clearance, Shepherd was rude to hospital staff and attempted to leave the hospital by pushing his body against a police officer’s.

Shepherd has already been arrested and released on bond. He has an initial hearing at 11 a.m. Oct. 12, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.