Man who reported elevator fire on U-M campus is suspected of arson; teenage girl also held
Police took a 23-year-old Ann Arbor man and a 14-year-old girl into custody after a fire in an elevator at the Church Street parking structure on the University of Michigan campus Sunday morning.
The U-M Department of Public Safety was alerted to the small fire when the 23-year-old used the emergency phone at the structure to report the blaze, which was quickly put out by the Ann Arbor Fire Department.
“They were claiming it was done by somebody else,” said Diane Brown, spokeswoman for U-M police.
After a brief interview with the man, police became suspicious that he had set the fire, and quickly located 14-year-old girl they believe to be his accomplice nearby.
“His story fairly quickly fell apart,” Brown said.
Police also suspect the couple of looking into cars for possible theft opportunities in the structure, where neither had a vehicle parked, Brown said.
Police and fire officials were dispatched to the structure, located at 525 Church St., at 6:22 a.m. Sunday. Clothing and cardboard had been ignited in the cab of one of the structure’s elevators. Preliminary estimates are that the fire caused around $3,000 worth of damage, Brown said.
“It damaged the flooring of the cab before it was extinguished,” she said.
The elevator shaft had to be aired out because of smoke.
The 23-year-old man is being held on an arson charge at the Washtenaw County Jail, but more charges could follow. His arraignment is expected to take place in the district court Tuesday.
The 14-year-old girl is being held in a juvenile detention center.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Antwan Phillips
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.
that was stupid for him to do that
OLDTIMER3
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.
sounds like they were looking for cars with the possibility of staeling it and driving away withit.
yohan
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 10:23 p.m.
OK, John. Thanks for checking. I thought it was owned by the city and the u rented it.
DennisP
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 7:08 a.m.
I believe that's the structure on Forest St. nearby I think the U and AA share it. The Church St. structure has attracted its share of crime for some reason over the past several years. I wouldn't call it a haven for criminal activity but it seems to have more robberies, larcenies and other incidents than at other structures. It could use more lighting and some random evening patrols.
John Counts
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
Hi Yohan. I just contacted Diane Brown, the spokeswoman for U-M police, and she said the structure is on campus and owned by the university. Thanks for reading.
yohan
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
The Church Street parking structure IS NOT LOCATED on the University of Michigan campus
MikeyP
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:12 a.m.
Considering that it was built by the University, is owned by the University, is maintained by the University and houses the University Key Office and that office was the original HQ for the campus police... it's most certainly just as much "on campus" as the Diag.
nickcarraweigh
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 11:58 p.m.
This is a civil conversation. No need to shout.
nvragain
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.
One has to wonder, why was a 23 year old man with a 14 year old girl at 6:22am on a Sunday morning?
LatersBaby
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 9:21 p.m.
My thoughts exactly.