DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines police officer was injured Monday while taking a suspected arsonist into custody on the city’s southside.

Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department said the incident began around 5:00 p.m. near SW 9th St. and Watrous Ave. when a 24-year-old patrol officer tried to make contact with 46-year-old Tohamad Fowler. Police say Fowler was wanted in connection with an arson investigation and also had unrelated active felony drug warrants.

Fowler ran but the officer was able to catch him. The criminal complaint filed in the case said Fowler ignored the officer’s commands and during the course of the arrest the officer suffered multiple injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and a laceration to the head.

Fowler is being held in the Polk County Jail on charges of first-degree arson, possession of an incendiary or explosive device, and interference with official acts causing bodily injury.

Sgt. Parizek said the arson and incendiary device charges stem from an incident on October 26th, when Fowler is accused of throwing a “Molotov cocktail” at a house in the 400 block of E. Marion St., which ignited a fire. The fire was put out but caused moderate damage to the home.

Investigators learned Fowler and the resident of the home, who was inside the home at the time of the incident, had been in a domestic relationship that ended about nine years ago.