August 26, 2021 - Merced – Merced Police officers arrested Thomas Housley (69) for attempted arson.
On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 10:38 P.M. officers responded to a multi-unit housing complex at 314 W. 19th Street for attempted arson. The suspect, Housley, was detained at the scene. A witness reported that Housley tried to burn down the building after he lit 
paper on fire and poured gasoline on it.
The incident stemmed from a dispute that Housley had with tenants about missing or withheld mail. Thankfully, there was no damage caused to the structure and nobody was injured. The fire was extinguished by a resident before officers arrived.
Housley was arrested for attempted arson and booked into custody at the Merced County Jail.
Case Number: 21-51353
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer A. Arias at 209-385-6905 or by email at ariasa@cityofmerced.org.
Other ways to contact us or report crime include:
For any emergency call or text 911
For non-emergency call 209-385-6912
Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call 209-385-4725
Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html.
Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police.
Source: Merced Police Department
