A 45-year-old Bismarck man is in the hospital after he allegedly set a fire to his residence in the 600 block of S 9th St while officers of the US Marshall’s High Plains Fugitive Task Force (HPFTF) tried to arrest him yesterday on outstanding Felony Burleigh County Warrants.
Bismarck Police Officers assigned to the HPFTF, along with members assigned from other agencies were investigating a tip that Matthew Odegard was at his residence in the 600 block of S 9th St. They responded a little after 3:00pm yesterday to take him into custody. Odegard had warrants for failing to appear on numerous different cases and charges. Odegard barricaded himself in a room at the residence and did not follow officers’ commands to come out. While trying to negotiate him out of the room, a fire started in the room Odegard barricaded himself.
Bismarck Fire Department, Metro Ambulance, and West Dakota SWAT were called to the scene to assist with the fire and getting Odegard into custody safely for himself and all involved. Odegard eventually exited through a window of the residence and the fire was extinguished by Bismarck Fire. Odegard was transported to a local hospital for treatment of possible burns and smoke inhalation.
Bismarck Police Department had over 15 officers on scene throughout the call. 11 Firefighters and four fire trucks responded and completely extinguished the fire around 6:00pm. Bismarck Fire and Police departments worked together to accomplish this, with firefighters extinguishing the fire under protection of police until the residence was cleared. None of the public safety employees were injured on scene and Odegard is still in the hospital receiving treatment. Chief Dave Draovitch said, “I am grateful for the outcome of this response, as it could have been tragic for Bismarck’s first responders, but through our collaboration with other public safety agencies in Bismarck, a fire was extinguished, and Odegard was taken into custody without injury to officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.”
Officers with the Bismarck Police Department continue to investigate the case in conjunction with Bismarck Fire Investigators for other offenses to include preventing arrest and endangerment by fire.