Sailou Mbllow (Photo courtesy Winnebago County Sheriff's Office)
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Gambian man who was having domestic issues with his wife and wanted to be deported to his homeland started his car on fire as part of effort to end one chapter of his life and move on, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday.
Sailou Mballow, 28, faces four charges, including attempted arson of a building and criminal damage to property for the incident Tuesday on Frederick Street.
An initial court appearance was expected Thursday.
According to the criminal complaint, Mballow’s wife called police on July 11, saying that since he returned from Gambia, Mballow was acting strangely. He had threatened to kill himself if police showed up.
On Tuesday, Mballow went to the Oshkosh Police Department, asking to be deported to Gambia due to issues with his wife. Police told them it wasn’t in their power to do that.
Shortly after he left, police were called to Mballow’s residence. A vehicle was on fire, causing the home to also catch fire – and damaging the next door home, as well.
Police talked to Sailou.
“He said that he that he had been using articles of clothing in an attempt to light the residence on fire. He explained that he had used gasoline to set the vehicle on fire and had lit the articles of clothing on fire using the fire from the car before attempting to transfer the fire to the residence,” the complaint states. “Sailou said that he took the necessary steps as a husband, and that when he ran out of options, he just wanted to kill himself. Sailou said he wanted to burn himself, his clothes, his car, the house, and everything to the ground so that they can leave that place and go somewhere in peace.”
No injuries were reported.
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