Salem Police arrested 54-year-old Steven Smith of 617 West Main on Wednesday for setting a fire in the basement of the house where he lives last Friday.
Smith is expected to make his first appearance in court on the residential arson charge on Thursday.
Smith has already been charged with aggravated battery to a police officer and resisting arrest in connection with an incident at the fire scene. He had the public defender appointed and was released on pre-trial conditions.
Salem Police have released more information about the fire now that Smith has been arrested. They report that a 2.5-gallon gas can was lit on fire in the basement, creating a large amount of black smoke. However, the fire never spread to the structure.
Salem Fire Chief Jim Cerny said at the fire scene on Friday that Smith had called 911 and, on the fire department’s arrival, pointed them in the wrong direction of the fire and left the scene. He showed up at the Salem Police Department lobby, where he allegedly yelled at the dispatcher through the glass panel. Smith then left and later returned to the fire scene, where he had disobeyed police and went back into the home. He later allegedly chest butted an officer outside the home, leading to the aggravated battery and resisting arrest charges.
