St. Cloud Arson Suspect Pleads Guilty

(KNSI) — A 36-year-old St. Cloud man charged with first-degree felony arson after allegedly trying to set fire to his apartment is headed to prison.

According to the criminal complaint, just after 2:00 a.m. January 12th, firefighters were called to an alarm at an apartment complex on the 4000 block of 12th Street North. They located a fire inside a unit rented by Reiss Atterbury and quickly put it out, containing the damage to the kitchen area.

Investigators said the oven was set between 450 and 500 degrees, and the door was open. Inside and in front of it was a large amount of burned debris, including a partially melted gas can and a roll of toilet paper. Three separate areas of fire were also discovered in the living room, and the smoke detectors had been disconnected. Surveillance footage shows Atterbury standing seemingly unconcerned in the doorway as smoke poured out of his apartment. The criminal complaint also says Atterbury told police he has bipolar disorder and suffers from delusions.

Atterbury pled guilty in the case and was sentenced to three years in prison with credit for time served. He must also pay $6,000 in restitution.

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