MURRAY — A Murray man was charged Friday with starting a fire that caused an estimated $250,000 in damage to his apartment complex.
William Fordyce, 26, is charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated arson, a first-degree felony; causing property damage, a second-degree felony; trespassing, failing to stop for police and drug possession, class A misdemeanors; interfering with an officer, a class B misdemeanor; and public intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.
Police and fire crews were called to a fire at Fireclay Metro Apartments, 4374 S. State, on Feb. 18. "The source of the fire was discovered to be in apartment 619, and the building was evacuated," according to charging documents.
Fordyce was determined to be the tenant of that apartment, and police learned that after the fire was reported, he was allegedly in a neighboring apartment without permission.
"Fordyce was located running away from the scene," the charges state. "Ultimately, he was Tased, but continued to flee, and was Tased a second time before being taken to the ground and arrested."
Fire investigators found a "paperback book and other combustible materials" had been stuffed inside a dryer vent inside Fordyce's apartment and lit on fire, the charges allege. "The loss was estimated to be around $250,000."
Police noted that Fordyce "appeared to be in an altered state due to his bloodshot eyes and confusion" and that a "baggie of cocaine" was found in his clothes.
"Fordyce intentionally started a fire in a large apartment complex. This created an evacuation and posed a grave danger of physical harm to all of the occupants of that apartment building, as well as surrounding housing and businesses," prosecutors said in the charges.
