Two LaPorte County sheriff's deputies responding to a report of a house fire near Springville wound up in a struggle with a man who refused to leave his smoke-filled home because of a sword.

The man didn't drop the sword until he was stunned with the Taser.

Charges of criminal recklessness and resisting law enforcement are being pursued against Peter Thompson, 50, who was taken to LaPorte Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained when two probes carrying 50,000 volts fired from the Taser stuck into his back, police said.

According to LaPorte County police, emergency responders were called about 6 p.m. Friday to the 5400 block of N. 125 West near Springville.

Smoke was filtering out the front door when deputies Al Ott and Donald Hicks went inside and urged Thompson to get out.

Police said Thompson was sitting on a couch with a blanket draped over his right hand.

He refused commands to show his hands. So one of the deputies removed the blanket and in Thompson's right hand was the handle of a sword.

It was being held in such a way that the blade was behind the man's back, police said.