MASON CITY – The Mason City Fire Department responded to a call of a house fire early Sunday morning.
At 3:29 a.m., firefighters were at 30 15th Street NE. The house was totally engulfed in flames.
Mason City police said Sunday in a press release that “as officers responded, they were advised that the fire had been intentionally started by a man that lived at the address.”
It is believed that at least two people resided at that address; a woman and her boyfriend. Both were out of the house. Officers took Bachig Cornelious, age 23, into custody in connection with the fire. Cornelious was booked into the county jail and charged with arson in the second degree, a class C felony. He was also charged with domestic assault, a serious misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.
“That’s my nieces house,” a witness at the scene told NIT reporter Jody Spear. “I just got home from the hospital and saw the house on fire. I live across the street. Then I saw her boyfriend run into the street saying, ‘She deserved it, she deserved it.’ The couple apparently were arguing, so he started the house on fire,” said the victim’s aunt in disbelief.
One of the concerns the firefighters had was that the house fire was close to Mason City Lumber, located just west of the fire, on North Federal Avenue. It didn’t look like any harm was done to that building.
The Mason City Police Department was directing traffic on North Federal, putting up barricades, and ensuring people’s safety.
“He wasn’t drunk, he did this sober,” said a neighbor, who was visiting the residence at the time of the incident. “I poured him one drink. They started arguing. It was just a verbal fight. To avoid anymore arguing, she went next door to get away from him for a while.”
Firefighters were on the roof of the house. The holes that were cut released more smoke and flames. They proceeded to put the fire out, then went inside to investigate.
Fire Chief Bob Platts was at the scene as well.
“Why would someone do that?!,” exclaimed the witness, again. “He felt neglected, so he starts a fire? Why would he do that?” It was explained that he felt neglected because she wouldn’t talk to him. She didn’t want to argue anymore.”
It was also said that a dog perished in the blaze.
The following information was given to NIT later Sunday morning: A person familiar with the female victim “was just up talking to the girl and her mom. The guy did throw the dog in the fire and the dog is dead. The girl has it in the back of her van.”
Jody Spear and Kelley Meyer contributed to this story and took the photos and video.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
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Isn’t this the second time this has happened right there? Is this the same guy that got away with it a few years ago. He threw a dog back in the burning house then too. They let him off with a fine and this is what happens. I don’t think it is Hardy’s fault the guy is a criminal. Until we get control of the imports this is going to keep happening.
I don’t think that man had any idea wat he was doin n his right mine… But I do know that dog that was in the house wasn’t thrown back in there.. He loved that dog truly.. No excuses for wat he did.. No one deserves that to happen.. He was probably just thinking about him slef an wanted a way out from all the bad…
Funny that Russ Hardy is getting all the blame for this. My husband and I own many properties in MC as well and yes, we can rent to whoever we choose to. And guess what…you have the right to purchase a house and rent it out at well…it isn’t that hard and it isn’t rocket science. Just because someone owns several properties doesn’t mean they are rich…it is our livelihood and we deal with sh*tty tenants all the time. You can’t always tell if someone is going to pay rent or trash your house (or burn it down) by a standard application form. Russ did not bring this person to town nor did he tell this person to start this house on fire.
After reading all the comments on this page, I more concerned about the prejudice and hatred in this community…not so much about those who are moving here. Open your eyes, stop your whining and if you don’t like it here…move. Maybe if your lucky, we will serenade you with a rousing number of 76 Trombones on your way out of town…but hurry on your way before you end up with a cornet in your a@@.
That’s all…
If the thought of Mason City Lumber going up scares you what about Huber Supply. Bet the Wonder bread store would leave town smelling like burnt toast for awhile.
It’s just a matter of time before an innocent child gets caught in the crossfire and is killed. Will this be YOUR child? (And no, you don’t have to live on the north end for this to happen. Druggies are everywhere!)
How do we get these people out of our city?
This state needs an animal abuser registry.
Mason City could clean up these houses that are magnets for trash if they would inspect them and fail them if they do not pass code or have junk sitting around. They could condemn them If they aren’t brought up to code and raze them. That’s how Oelwein started to clean up their town to get rid of the druggies. Read the book Methland to see how they did it.
“….. and get the drugs out of Mason City.”
Better not let Peter L. hear that, he wants the drugs to stay in Mason City.
Wow…the nerve that some people have in this town. I just don’t understand what could drive someone to start their own girl friends house on fire? And then to top this all off, he put her INNOCENT dog in there!!! Who the hell does that?! I’ve met the girl friend a few times before..and the this man. The girlfriend isn’t the best person in the world…but NO ONE should deserve this to happen to them. Especially since she has children, two of them I’m pretty sure. That’s terrible and I hope this man gets ALL of the charges he can possibly get. God bless this family and hope everything gets better over time! <3
I think everyone needs to help each other out instead of worrying about skin color or where they come from. Group together instead of fighting against one another and get the drugs out of Mason City.
I would like to know if a community can put a limit on their low income housing and if so how. If a city starts to show problems with too much crime and not enough law enforcement what should city leaders do?
When govt gives “grants” for low income housing can the city say no thanks, not right now until we can figure out what is wrong? Who is applying for the grants?
As far as the landlords, can a city limit Section 8 vouchers?
Let’s face it MC has been touting their homeless shelters and food kitchens with providing evening meals, etc. People tout the food bank and it is good that we provide for people in need but when you go full bore and these services become a big industry in the city it is kind of like “if you build it they will come”
Well, once again we have to drag the poor, innocent animals into it. Whatever goes on between this freak and his girlfriend is their problem. Why drag the poor dog into it? So, I say tie him to a pole out in the yard and set him on fire and then laugh. See how he likes it. If they would do to these people what they do to the animals, perhaps they would think twice. The laws do nothing with these people and these are God’s creatures just like people are. The woman will probably take this freak back, too, as they always do. Can this town ever attract a different kind of tenant? Oh no, not as long as we have the slum lords like Russ Hardy. They need to burn down most of his properties and that would clean the town up.
People commenting about the Klan, and radical racial comments are just people’s way of showing how frustrated the good citizens are with what’s going on in Mason City. It’s gotten out of hand, the drugs, the low income housing that provides these drug dealers a place to reside and do their business, and all the welfare. It’s out of hand. Look at the smaller communities around us. There’s not alot of this going on. There’s some communities that don’t have low income housing, right there that’s one way to eliminate some of the problems. I think that’s where we need to start. Making landlords accountable and make them keep their properties up to codes, and ensure proper screening of possible tenants. And yes, reporting crime to the police, no that that is going to nip anything, the poor police force is overloaded with this nonsense. But it’s time for the good citizens of this community to do something to make a change. Any suggestions?
Why does all this ugly sh*t come from a particular minority in Mason City? Mason City has issues, you people pissing off the minorities? Where are you importing these fine f-in citizens from?
Whatever happened to the phrase “Mason City, we like it here”? I was always told that its citizens we a tolerant and accepting bunch. Or was that just a lie?
I wrote something last week for which I got ripped on but I will say it again. It’s time to call for Martial Law in Mason City. Crime is TOTALLY out of control and the MCPD is in WAY over their heads. Crime is winning and the MCPD is losing. Or am I wrong about the MCPD?
Go ahead; rip me all you want to. Let crime win. Keep on living in fear for the next shoe to drop. We all know that something has to be done before its too late; which I feel it already is.