(KNSI) — A 29-year-old St. Cloud man is in jail after he allegedly set several items on fire at a group home and smashed out the windows of a minivan.
According to the criminal complaint, just after 2:20 Saturday afternoon, a call came in for a fire at a group home in St. Augusta. While first responders were on their way, they learned that Michael Hopkins had called 911 and said he had set something on fire, but the fire was out. When police arrived, they took Hopkins into custody.
Investigators say they found a pile of items that appeared to be burned, including a blanket, in a pile in the yard with a garden hose running on it. They went inside and found burned paperwork and file folders near the front door, a burned tissue box that had melted into the carpet and charred it, and a burned up bookshelf. All of the items were removed and brought outside. Group home staff handed over a lighter, which they believed Hopkins used to start the fire.
A staff member told police they were inside the home and smelled smoke, so they looked into where it was coming from and found Hopkins in a back bedroom setting fire to a pile of items. As he attempted to move the burning items outside, he said Hopkins kept setting fires. While they were trying to get the fires out, they say Hopkins went outside, picked up a brick, and started smashing windows on the home’s minivan.
Hopkins is charged with arson and damage to property.
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