A Rockmart man who was released from prison in mid-July is back in jail facing a list of charges after he tried to burn down a trailer, according to Rockmart Police reports.

Sammy Darrell Jernigan, 54, of a Rockmart address, remained in the Polk County Jail without bond set on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident that began as Jernigan accusing another of stealing money from his debit card, and ended with him trying to burn down a trailer and refusing to cooperate with police before his arrest.

Per Rockmart Police, Jernigan was staying at a Rockmart address after being released from prison with a relative and had been paid $50 for an odd job via the CashApp, which was then supposed to be transferred over to his phone. He went off to the store to purchase items, and came back home enraged because he said the money wasn’t on his card and threatened to burn the trailer down where he was staying on Clearwater Street.

Police and fire were dispatched around 11 p.m. to the Clearwater Street trailer after firefighters reported that Jernigan was being unruly and threatening first responders on the scene, and when police arrived they immediately were encountered by Jernigan who began to yell and cuss at officers.

One officer reported that he was forced to draw his Taser and was about to use it on Jernigan – who remained combative during the entire incident and threatened officers several tiems – but was taken into custody and escorted to a patrol vehicle. Once in custody, police found a knife with a three-inch blade, a flashlight and an identification card.

Officers also reported that Jernigan made additional threats to their lives once he got back out of jail, then once inside the patrol vehicle he banged his head multiple times against the partition in an attempt to harm himself, and threatened to hang himself at the jail and attempt to blame his death on the Rockmart Police. He was taken into custody by jail staff in a restraint chair, and deputies were informed of his threats before the officer went back to further investigate.

A witness told police they called the relative Jernigan stayed with about the fire as soon as it happened, and that he was seen watching the flames on the side of the trailer in front of the residence.

Police also reported that a gas can was found and burn marks along the wall indicated the fire was started intentionally with gasoline, and when investigators arrived to look over the damage it was still smoking from being put out by firefighters.

The residence was damaged during the fire, per police. One person was inside the residence when the fire was started, and was unharmed during the incident.

Jernigan remained in custody as of this posting on felony charges of first-degree arson, aggravated assault, two counts of possession of firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, two counts of terroristic threats and acts, criminal attempt to commit a felony and possession of tools for the commission of a crime. Misdemeanor charges also included reckless conduct and obstructing law enforcement officers.