Seth R. Schmidt
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield man accused of starting a fire inside an apartment last week has officially been charged with arson.
Seth R. Schmidt, 21, 2100 block of Crossing Lane is facing a Level 4 felony count of arson. The charge carries anywhere from two to 12 years in prison.
The case was opened late last week after officials from the Greenfield Police Department made the arrest. Schmidt’s case has been assigned to Hancock County Circuit Court where Judge Scott Sirk issued a $7,500 cash bond and put a no contact order in place against Schmidt.
On Tuesday, July 11, police were dispatched to the 2100 block of Crossing Lane, Greenfield at the Crossing Apartment complex to assist the Greenfield Fire Territory on a structure fire.
Upon arrival, fire crews found an active fire inside the apartment and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. The fire was contained to one apartment.
During the investigation, officials learned from witnesses that a domestic disturbance occurred immediately prior to the fire. Officials found evidence located at the scene that led to the belief Schmidt committed arson.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a woman living in the apartment with Schmidt told officials she was getting ready to leave for work when an argument started and Schmidt stated he was going to burn her stuff.
The report noted the woman said Schmidt took her apartment key, so she left the residence. While she was outside, she heard a loud bang and saw Schmidt coming out of the apartment saying there was a fire. The woman stated that she knew where a fire extinguisher was and went back inside the residence and tried to extinguish the fire.
According to the probable cause affidavit, it was later researched and confirmed through police records that officers had been dispatched to the same apartment involving the same individuals approximately five times since the beginning of the month.
Officials advised the fire took place inside a closet of a bedroom Schmidt and the woman shared. The woman advised the fire was approximately the same size as a camp fire and that a good amount of smoke was inside the apartment during the time of the fire.
Schmidt denied starting the fire in the closet, officials said in the affidavit. However, he was arrested and has been charged.
Steve Kropacek, the GFT fire marshal, was able to determine the fire started on the carpet floor within the closet, officials said in the report. He also found a damaged aluminum can, which appeared to be hairspray, which had exploded from the inside, the affidavit said.
Schmidt is scheduled for a pretrial conference in September. As of press time Tuesday, he was still an inmate in the county jail.
