McAlester Man Arrested For Setting Apartment On Fire With Children Inside

A McAlester man in jail accused of setting an apartment on fire with children inside.

The McAlester News-Capital reports the man told officers he set his apartment on fire because his girlfriend wouldn't talk to him.

Court records show Brannon Clayton is charged with first-degree arson.

The Captial says, according to an affidavit, Clayton told officers he, his girlfriend and another man had been doing drugs together and the girlfriend cheated on him but wouldn't admit it.

The newspaper reports a witness said Clayton started the fire in a room with a child inside.

The affidavit says, according to the paper, someone had to open the locked room with a knife and that's when Clayton walked out holding the child, who was not hurt.

Court records show Clayton is being held on $50,000 bond with a hearing set for Friday.