Balchick

A city man is behind bars after admitting to covering the foundation and front porch of a home in gasoline with the intent of burning it down.

Timothy Frank Balchick, 35, was arraigned Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on single felony counts of arson – intent to destroy unoccupied building and risking catastrophe, single misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault and a single summary count of disorderly conduct – engage in fighting. He was remanded to the Blair County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Altoona police were dispatched to a residence along the 1000 block of Second Avenue about 8 p.m. Monday for a welfare check on the victim. On scene, the victim told officers she was okay, but Balchick had poured gasoline on the foundation and front porch of the residence for the second time in a week. In addition to being able to smell the gasoline, officers reported being able to see the gasoline marks on the home’s foundation. They noted the bushes in the property’s front yard were also covered in gasoline, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

In an interview, the victim said she and Balchick had gotten into a verbal argument, with Balchick repeating “I’m sick of this.” Balchick then began to pour gasoline on the home’s foundation and front porch. Officers reported the residence as being in between two other houses, separated by two small walkways on either side. They then located a gas can in the back of Balchick’s truck, the police report states.

The victim told officers that Balchick had called his sister, who talked him out of burning down the house. Balchick later admitted to police to pouring gasoline on the residence with the intent of burning it down, the report states.

Balchick is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of DeAntonio on Oct. 15.