Man threatens to use Molotov cocktail to burn people at bus station

A man threatened to use a homemade weapon to burn people at the Greyhound Bus Station, according to the Beaumon Police Department.

Police responded to the bus station, 650 Magnolia, at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Witnesses reported that a man had a glass bottle with with gasoline and a rag stuffed into the opening, known as a Molotov cocktail, and was threatening to burn people with it.

Officers seized the weapon and arrested the man. They identified him as Ernest Jackson, 61, of Beaumont. Witnesses said Jackson was threatening to burn people and said he was going to burn down Henry's Place, 1107 McFaddin.

Jackson was arrested for having a Prohibited Weapon and Attempted Arson. A Beaumont Fire Department arson investigator interviewed Jackson and collected evidence. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail.

Jackson has a criminal record including assault in 1980, a threat to injure a person in 1983 and carrying a prohibited weapon in 1983. Jackson received a 7 year sentence on that charge.

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