MESICK, Mich. – A suspect in a northern Michigan house fire reportedly asked a local church for help burning his house down 90 minutes before the fire.
The interaction occurred just before 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at a church in Mesick, a village about 40 minutes south of Traverse City.
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According to authorities, an unidentified man in an orange hunting jacket came to the church and asked to borrow a gas can because he wanted to burn his house down. Instead, church officials called 911. Police searched the area, but were unable to find the man.
Less than 90 minutes later, at about 12:15 p.m., officials received a 911 call regarding a house fire. A witness said they saw a man run from the burning home wearing an orange hunting jacket that was partially on fire.
Shortly after, police said they received a request for an ambulance for a man wearing an orange hunting jacket who was at a car wash a few blocks from the fire.
At the car wash, police said they found 33-year-old Brandon Michael Sias. He reportedly smelled like gasoline and had a gas can nozzle sticking out of his jacket pocket at the time.
After being cleared medically, Sias was arrested and charged with second-degree arson. His bond was set at $250,000.
His next scheduled court appearance is Jan. 21.
