MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE — Three homeless people were locked inside a makeshift dwelling under a bridge when a man outside allegedly soaked the entry hatch in gasoline and ignited a fire, according to charging documents.

Weber County sheriff’s deputies arrested Dustin Howard Smith, 41, just before 4 a.m. Wednesday near 1400 S. 1900 West. A man who called 911 told deputies that Smith was angry with him, accusing him of sleeping with his wife in the makeshift home, accessed through a wood hatch.

The man, Smith’s wife and a second woman were in the dwelling when they smelled gas and heard a torch being triggered, according to the arrest affidavit. The man found that the hatch had been locked from the outside. He got an ax and broke through, seeing flames as he got out.

Smith then allegedly threatened to shoot him with a revolver he was holding, the affidavit said. Deputies said they found a butane torch, a portion of the hatch with fire damage and soaked-in gasoline, and a .32 caliber revolver.

Deputies booked Smith into the Weber County Jail on suspicion of three counts of first-degree felony aggravated arson, a third-degree felony firearms charge and several misdemeanors. He was ordered held without bail.

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