A man who allegedly tried to set a car on fire in Council Bluffs Friday evening, was arrested shortly afterward for Arson in the 2nd Degree, and on a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Council Bluffs Police said Friday 24-year old Marquez Sanders, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 5:40-p.m., after Officers investigated a disturbance at 1435 North 15^th Street.

Marquez Sanders

During their investigation, Officers spoke with 52-year old Mark Van Outry, of Council Bluffs, who said that he was in a verbal disturbance with Sanders.  Sanders left the building after the disturbance, and when he went outside of the building, allegedly took a towel and lit it on fire before placing the towel inside a 2000 Mercury Sable, owned by Mark Van Outry.

Bystanders were able to extinguish the fire.  Sanders was located by officers as he was leaving the scene.  He was booked into Pottawattamie County Corrections.  The investigation was a coordinated effort between the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Council Bluffs Fire Department.