Arson, drug charges filed following fire

John K. Belfour , 57, of Eunice was arrested on simple arson and narcotics charges following a fire Wednesday.
In a news release, the State Fire Marshal’s Office said investigators responded to a fire on South 5th Street on Wednesday morning.
According to deputy chief Brant Thompson, investigators determined the fire started in or near a drawer where drug paraphernalia was found.
The fire was contained to the kitchen and did not affect the adjoining unit in the duplex, Thompson said.
Belfour is accused of smoking crack-cocaine, then placing a crack pipe and a makeshift lighter in the drawer where the fire started.
Belfour allegedly left the duplex immediately after depositing the paraphernalia into the drawer. The fire was called in a few minutes later.
Eunice police assisted in the arrest of Belfour at nearby Kent’s Auto Sales a short time later.
Belfour was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail for simple arson and charged by city police with possession of drug paraphernalia.