Landscaper threw an ax at his boss and set fire to a dump truck, deputies say

A man allegedly on drugs set fire to one of his employer’s dump trucks in Sumner and took an ax to three others, records show.

A father-son duo who own a landscaping business in Sumner were called to their property in the 7100 block of 166th Avenue East on Saturday night when they heard a dump truck was on fire.

“They arrived to find the defendant there with an axe and a machete, threatening to kill them,” according to charging papers.

The man accused his bosses of kidnapping his mother, something detectives say wasn’t true.

At one point during the confrontation, the defendant allegedly threw an ax at the younger employer.

Deputies were called and had to use a stun gun to gain control of the defendant.

Damages included a burned cab and engine compartment on a 2006 Chevrolet dump truck, as well as shattered windshields and windows and ax marks to the hoods of three other trucks.

There is an estimated $54,600 in damages to all four trucks, records show.

The man pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree assault, second-degree arson, felony harassment and three counts of malicious mischief. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

This story was originally published January 9, 2018 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Landscaper threw an ax at his boss and set fire to a dump truck, deputies say."