A suspicious fire at a home in the 200 block of Dixie Street is believed to be arson.

According to LaGrange police, officers responded to the home Sunday at about 11:52 p.m. in reference to an arson that had just occurred.

Upon officers’ arrival, the fire had already been extinguished by the LaGrange Fire Department. The victim told police that he was sitting in his vehicle, which was parked in front of his residence, smoking a cigarette when he said he saw a flash come from the side of his residence. He looked up and saw flames and as he exited his car, he allegedly saw an unknown black male walking from beside the residence with what he believed to be a gas can in his hands. The victim said that he began to chase the subject down the roadway, and during the chase the subject dropped the gas can and took off his black jacket.

Once officers inspected the scene, it was determined that someone poured a line of gasoline along the ground at the base of the wall and ignited it. The wall only suffered moderate damage. Officers patrolling the area found a blue gas can on the ground on Georgia Avenue and a black jacket in front of a residence in the 800 block of Greenville Street.

This case is currently under investigation.

If anyone has any additional information about this incident, please contact the LaGrange Police Department at 706-883-2603 or Troup County Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000, or text an anonymous tip to TEXT-A-TIP at 274637, keyword “LAGRANGE.” Tips can also be submitted online at www.lagrangega.org or www.facebook.com/lagrange.police.