Knoxville Fire crews responded to a house fire on 9522 Chestnut Ridge Road in north Knox County around 4:30 Monday morning.  According to reports, when fire crews arrived on the scene, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming through the roof and window. Crews extinguished the flames with no injuries.

The suspect, later identified as Sidney David Whitsell, 40, had fled the scene but was later found by patrol at the Heiskell Market. A deputy went to interview Sidney Whitsell at the Heiskell Market, but the report said Sidney Whitsell was too drunk to provide any “coherent statements.”

When the deputy continued on to the scene, they spoke with the property owner, Johnny Whitsell, who told police that the home is normally occupied by his son, Sidney Whitsell, and his friend.

Johnny Whitsell did not know where the woman was. The deputy went to investigate the fire when he received a call from the woman who was missing. She told the deputy that she was at home when the fire started. She had made a hamburger to eat, and Sidney Whitsell had asked if there were any leftovers. When she told him no, he became “increasingly irritated and started stomping around and slamming doors,” according to the report.

She went downstairs to get away from Sidney Whitsell. However, a short while later, the report said she heard an explosion, felt the house shake and started to smell and see smoke.

When the woman tried to leave from the door that leads to the main floor, which is the only working exit, she found the door was locked, according to the report.