A Coaldale man was sent to jail on charges he attempted to light a vehicle on fire and then resisted arrest, according to borough police.

Police also said that Timothy Keer, 59, was drunk when they picked him up on the charges.

According to police, offices were dispatched to the unit block of East Ruddle Street on the afternoon of June 21 after a witness reported that Keer attempted to light a 1994 Chevrolet sedan on fire.

Police watched video surveillance of Keer walking on the street and lighting an item on fire. He then tossed the item onto the front floor of the parked and unoccupied vehicle. Police said he told a man that he was going to burn the vehicle and asked him not to say he was there. As Keer walked away, the man went for water to extinguish the flames.

The man told police that Keer was “crazy and drunk” and said he didn’t contact police immediately because he thought he could extinguish the fire. He provided police with the name of the vehicle’s owner.

The owner contacted police and said he wanted to press charges. He told police that the vehicle is worth about $3,000.

During their investigation, police said they saw a burned blue potato chip bag on the front floor. Police said the carpet was melted and the vehicle smelled of smoke.

Officers said they interviewed Keer at his residence. He denied being on Ruddle Street earlier in the day and exhibited signs of drunkenness.

As police attempted to place him in handcuffs, he pulled away. After a short struggle, police were able to cuff Keer. An officer from Coaldale suffered a cut to his hand as Keer resisted arrest.

Officers transported Keer to the police station where he learned he was captured on video lighting the fire. Police said Keer admitted to the crime.

When asked why he did it, Keer laughed and said the car did not catch fire. He told the police it was “a joke” and that they should let him go like nothing ever happened.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge A.J. Serina, Orwigsburg, on charges of felony arson; criminal mischief, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. He was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison on $75,000 straight cash bail.

Summit Hill Police assisted.