FAYETTEVILLE, AR (KNWA) – A local man arrested as one of two suspects in an armed robbery faces other charges after being accused of setting fire to a police interview room. Elijha Carter, now faces arson and criminal mischief charges in the small fire.
According to a new report sent into our newsroom early Thursday morning, police were interviewing Elijha Carter at the Fayetteville Police Department just before 1 p.m. Wednesday when an officer smelled something burning and noticed smoke coming out of the door handle area of the interview room. The officer opened the door to see what was burning inside the interview room and noticed Carter was standing right next to the door. The officer closed the door and called for assistance.
When the door was opened the entire way, police found Carter sitting in a chair away from the door. Police found a small Bic lighter in Carter’s pocket. Carter said he was flicking the lighter next to the door and hadn’t intentionally set anything on fire.
The police report says the door “sustained permanent burn and char marks.” According to police, the flame had been next to the door long enough to burn off the protective lacquer of the door and was centered on the locking mechanism.
