Man charged with attempted murder and arson after fire started outside home

A man was arrested after a police chase ensued following a fire that was started outside a home, occupied by five people, two of which were minors, authorities said.

Daniel Allan Everhart, 20, was charged with five counts of attempted murder and third-degree arson.

Everhart is currently jailed at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center and is being held on a total of $50,000 bond, according to jail records.

A Myrtle Beach officer was on patrol and acting undercover about 11 p.m. on Saturday near an apartment complex at 507 Chester Street, when the officer said he saw Everhart start a fire at the back of a home, according to a police report.

The officer said he saw flames grow about 4 to 5 feet high in a matter of seconds, and he immediately called other officers to the scene and called for fire rescue workers.

The officer said that he and another officer then put out the blaze using fire extinguishers.

Police said Everhart ran from the home toward Kings Highway. Two other Myrtle Beach police officers arrived and began to chase Everhart on foot and were able to catch and detain him, according to the report.

Authorities said a 29-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman, a 54-year-old woman, and two juveniles whose information was not listed, came outside and said Everhart knocked their door and asked to buy the prescription drug, Xanax from them 30 minutes before the fire started.

The victims said they told Everhart that they do not do or sell drugs, police said.

Officers said there was a strong smell of gasoline coming from the fire and from Everhart.

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 6:33 AM with the headline "Man charged with attempted murder and arson after fire started outside home."