SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – A Sevierville man is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he poured gasoline on a woman, set her on fire and later barricaded himself inside a motel room during a lengthy police standoff.
According to court records obtained by WVLT News, 33-year-old Mark Harden is accused of attacking a woman on October 16 at a residence in Sevierville. The victim told officers Harden poured gasoline on her, pushed her onto a couch and produced a lighter.
Investigators said Harden was able to ignite the woman’s face. The victim reportedly extinguished the flames by running water over herself in a sink before escaping the home.
Court records indicate the woman fled the residence and sought help from nearby individuals. Emergency responders transported her to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she was treated for first- and second-degree burns.
Following the alleged assault, authorities said Harden retreated to the Smokies Motel in Sevierville. When officers attempted to contact him, he refused to come out and barricaded himself inside a room.
“Due to the severity of the charges, and the potential that the suspect was armed, the SPD SWAT team, along with crisis negotiators and a police K9, were activated and deployed to the location,” Sevierville Police Public Information Officer Bob Stahlke said.
The standoff lasted approximately three hours as officers worked to negotiate Harden’s surrender. Police eventually entered the room and found him concealed beneath a pile of clothes and a mattress.
Harden was taken into custody without further incident.
He now faces numerous charges, including aggravated assault, kidnapping and other related offenses stemming from the investigation.
The case remains under review by prosecutors.
