A man who was taken to the hospital by helicopter after a fire charged with first-degree arson after he allegedly set fireworks off inside a Brookhaven apartment.
Christopher D. Grimes, 44, of Granville, is also charged with destruction of property.
Grimes drank several beers in his apartment, E1, at Brook View Apartments on July 1, according to a criminal complaint. About 8 p.m., he went to Donald Hall’s apartment, E3.
Hall said Grimes was drunker than usual when he came over. The two ate, had some beers and did some shots. Grimes talked about setting fireworks off in the apartment’s courtyard but Hall talked him out of it, the complaint said.
At some point, Grimes got angry and left Hall’s apartment. Minutes later, Hall heard glass breaking and Grimes yelling, he said. Grimes was breaking the windows in his apartment. Hall’s daughter, Heather, went to his apartment to calm him down, the complaint said.
Heather told Grimes he was breaking his own stuff and Grimes told her that’s not all he was going to break up, the complaint said.
“Apparently at that point, Christopher Grimes began lighting off fireworks inside the apartment,” the complaint said.
Heather then left and told her parents Grimes was out of control. Fireworks went off “continuously” for several minutes and residents noticed the heavy black smoke. 911 was then called to report a fire inside Grimes apartment.
Brookhaven Volunteer Fire Department arrived, forced their way into the apartment and found Grimes partly unconscious and partly inside his refrigerator, the complaint said. Grimes was airlifted to UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh for smoke inhalation.
Brookhaven VFD contacted the State Fire Marshal’s office which investigated the incident. The investigation showed the fire was started through an intentional act and that Grimes removed his smoke detectors at some point, putting other tenants at risk.
Grimes was interviewed at his mother’s house in Granville on July 3 and admitted to breaking two windows and setting off the fireworks, the complaint said.
Grimes was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court by Magistrate Jim Nabors. Bond was set at $5,000 and as of Wednesday afternoon, was being held in North Central Regional Jail.
