Cheyenne Man Charged With Attempted Arson, Drug Possession

A 31-year-old Cheyenne man is facing a felony charge after allegedly threatening to burn his house down.

According to a booking sheet, police were called to Zackary Lee Mondello's home at 5048 Redmond Rd. at about 5:25 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, for a physical domestic involving weapons.

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While en route, dispatch advised Mondello took a gas can and a knife into his room by himself and stated he was going to burn the house down or make law enforcement shoot him.

Police say when they arrived on the scene, they saw Mondello get out of a car and gave him verbal commands, but he ran into the house, which was unoccupied.

Police say Mondello was very erratic and aggressive and finally agreed to come out of the house, at which point he was handcuffed.

Police say Mondello, whose hands were covered in blood, told them that he had smoked cocaine that morning and was upset with his mother and brother.

According to the booking sheet, Mondello got into a verbal argument with his brother and ended up forcefully pushing him in the chest with both hands, then grabbed a large red kitchen knife and a full gas can and yelled, "Let the cops come and I'll burn this b---- down."

Officers searched the home and reportedly found a full gas can with Mondello's blood on it that was tipped over and leaking gasoline in the garage. They also found a pink lighter and red kitchen knife inside his bedroom, where his brother said Mondello had poured gas.

Police say Mondello also had two lighters in his hoodie pocket.

Mondello was arrested and ultimately charged with attempted first-degree arson and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

He made his initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court on Monday, Feb. 5, during which his bond was set at $5,000 cash and his preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m.