MARLIN (June 17, 2009)—Sonny Garcia Perez, 40, was ordered held in lieu of bonds totaling $795,000 Wednesday afternoon in Marlin, after he was charged with arson, terroristic threat, criminal trespass and evading arrest.

Perez was arrested Tuesday evening after a dramatic chase through a Rosebud neighborhood.

The charges stem from a series of incidents Tuesday that started with a threatening note and ended in the explosive fire that gutted the home of Perez’ estranged wife at West Ave. B and South 3rd Street near downtown Rosebud.

Rosebud Police Chief Jeremiah Shultz tracked Perez to the house Tuesday after earlier obtaining an arrest warrant charging terroristic threat in connection with the note left on the windshield of Perez’ estranged wife’s car that included a threat to blow up the woman’s home.

He ordered Perez to come out, but Perez refused.

Then, he said, he heard two loud bangs from inside the home and left side of the house exploded in flames.

At first it appeared that a bomb may have ignited the fire, and there were concerns that other devices might be in the house.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators spent the day Wednesday searching the damaged house for evidence of explosives, but found none.

Authorities now say it appears the fire was started with accelerants and did not involve a bomb.

Authorities Wednesday also discounted media reports that a violent gang was somehow linked to the incident.