CEDAR CITY, UTAH – October 1, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – A suspect is in custody after allegedly starting three fires in Cedar City.
Officers from the Cedar City Police Department were summoned to the Cedar Post Pawn Shop in Cedar City in reference to a fire, on Wednesday, September 30, at approximately 8:45 a.m. The fire was discovered and extinguished by a local refuse collector. Thanks to the quick action of this good samaritan, the damage to the structure was significantly less than if the fire had gone undetected. The initial estimates of the damage caused by this fire is believed to be less than $1,000. This fire is what is believed to be the beginning of a crime spree that landed Andrew Michael Russell, 29, in jail for multiple felony offenses.
While conducting the investigation into the fire, police and fire personnel were summoned to a second fire in the same area of town. This time the fire was at a maintenance building for the Cedar City Cemetery. This fire was reported approximately twenty minutes after the first fire. The damage caused by this fire is estimated to be several thousand dollars.
Multiple witnesses placed a suspect matching Andrew Russell’s description at or very nearby each of the fire scenes during the time the fires were reported. Witnesses also placed Russell in or near two separate stolen vehicles in the areas of the fires. One of the vehicles was stolen from a neighboring business to the Cedar Post Pawn Shop, while the other was stolen from a government building that is adjacent to the cemetery maintenance building.
It is believed that after starting the fire at the cemetery maintenance building and stealing the automobile from the neighboring business, that Russell went to a residential neighborhood only blocks from the cemetery. A resident contacted police and stated that she arrived home only to find smoke coming from the back of her home and a strange vehicle in her driveway. Additional witnesses placed a suspect matching Russell’s description in the area of where this third fire was discovered and where the stolen vehicle was recovered. The third fire was at a residence on the 300 West block of 900 North in Cedar City. This fire caused minimal damage as it was set in a metal bucket next to a wood pile. It was later discovered that this home had also been burglarized.
The crime spree continued as Russell was seen attempting to get into other vehicles and homes in the neighborhood. As officers combed the area, a CCPD officer discovered Russell exiting the backyard of a residence near where the third fire was reported. Officers converged on Russell and took him into custody without incident.
After being arrested, Russell attempted to kick one of the arresting officers. Additionally, he later attempted to assault medical personnel examining him for a medical clearance. Russell was ultimately booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on three counts of aggravated arson, two counts of theft of an automobile, two counts of burglary of a residence, assault by a prisoner and assault against a heath care provider.
