St. Cloud Man Accused of Arson After Fire Causes $57K in Damage

(KNSI) – A St. Cloud man is charged with arson after allegedly setting his apartment on fire. Firefighters were called to an apartment building on the 1200 block of 2nd Street Northeast around 6:45 on Tuesday evening.

The fire was coming from unit five in the Elkwood Apartment complex and firefighters put it out. Officials say Hunter Steven Hipp lived in the apartment and told police he started the fire. The 19 year old says he lit the stove on fire and put a bunch of flammable stuff in the corner of the living room and lit that on fire. Hipp stated he burned a wooden painting, a big cardboard box, clothes, toilet paper, and papers he found lying around the apartment. The fire caused around $57,000 in damage.

According to the criminal complaint, when Investigators asked why he set the fire, he said, “I honestly don’t have an answer for that.” Hip told police he wanted to be arrested and thought arson was the best thing to do.

Investigators said when they told him that people could have gotten hurt, he said he thought about that and lit the fire anyway. He is charged in Benton County District Court with one count of 1st-degree arson.

Bond was set at $40,000 with conditions and $20,000 without conditions. His next court hearing is on April 26th.

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