Police: Man Starts Tulsa Apartment Fire Over Stolen Drugs

A man suspected of starting a fire over stolen drugs early Wednesday morning at a Tulsa apartment complex was arrested.

Tulsa Fire got the call shortly before 6:30 a.m. at the Denver Park Apartments at 17th and South Riverside.

02/22/2012 Related Story: 24 Units Damaged In Wednesday Morning Tulsa Apartment Complex Fire

The fire destroyed 4 units, smoke and water damaged 20 others at one building in the complex.

Tulsa Fire investigators booked James Stout, 56, into the Tulsa County jail on a complaint of first degree arson.

According to an arrest report, Stout threatened to burn the complex down over missing Lortab pills he believed were stolen from him. Lortab is hydrocodone based pain killer.

The report also alleges Stout made no effort to wake two occupants in his unit while he stood and watched fire spread.  

Stunned residents, many startled from sleep, could only watch as the fire devoured what it could.

"Why is someone banging on the door like that? He said there was a major fire and we needed to get the baby and get out," said resident Samantha Blackman.

Denver Parks Apartment Fire

The Tulsa Fire Department called in a second alarm to make sure everyone was out of the building.

Riverside and Denver were shut down as crews fought to get the fire under control.

"Once it gets in to the attic, these are older structures so it's hard to stop. So they went ahead and vented the attics to let the heat and the smoke out," said Tulsa Fire Captain Stan May.

Alexsander Adams, his fiancée Samantha and their three-year-old daughter have been through this nightmare before. Another fire destroyed their apartment in the same complex back in 2009.

"This is a repeat of everything we are going to have to do again. Just a big repeat," said Alexsander Adams.

"I've cried a few times. But I know I have to stay strong enough to keep going on because I have my family. Because without that I've got nothing," Blackman said.

Witnesses helped lead investigators to Stout. He was arrested for first degree arson. Fire officials are still investigating. 

The Tulsa Red Cross has opened a shelter for residents who have been displaced. The organization says they have assisted at least 28 people so far.

No one was injured.