Police Arrest OKC Man Accused Of Trying To Grill Meal Over Open Fire

Oklahoma City police arrested a man they say started an open fire pit in his backyard so he could grill dinner.

An officer was driving near S.W. 40th Street and S. Villa Place on August 10 when he saw flames in the backyard of a home. The officer looked through the chain link fence and saw a large fire in a pit with flames burning three to four feet high.

The officer contacted the homeowner, 29-year-old Justin Popejoy. According to the police report, Popejoy told the officer he started the fire so he could grill food for dinner. When the officer told him the fire violated the statewide burn ban, Popejoy replied that he thought grilling was still allowed under the ban.

The officer informed Popejoy all outdoor grilling must be done with a propane or gas grill. The officer arrested Popejoy then used a garden hose to douse the fire.

8/3/2012 Related Story: Governor Issues Statewide Burn Ban For Oklahoma