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WILKES-BARRE — City police arrested a man they allege ignited a mattress on fire during an argument with his girlfriend early Thursday morning.

Johnny Lassiter, 34, of South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, used a lighter to set fire to a mattress inside an apartment building at 53 S. Welles St. at about 1:43 a.m., according to court records.

Lassiter set the fire during an argument with his girlfriend, court records say.

She told police she was awakened by Lassiter nudging her.

During an argument, Lassiter pulled the mattress off the bed frame and the woman replaced it back onto the frame, court records say.

Lassiter pulled out a lighter and allegedly ignited the mattress filling the apartment with smoke.

Police in court records say the mattress was smoldering when officers arrived at the apartment.

City fire fighters responded and removed the mattress and box spring from the building.

Lassiter was charged with risking a catastrophe, arson and simple assault. He was arraigned by District Judge Michael G. Dotzel in Luzerne County Central Court and jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $25,000 bail.