SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 9, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A man has been arrested and charged on suspicion of starting a fire Thursday at his place of employment near Trolley Square.
Cameron Seeley, 38, is facing a charge of aggravated arson, a first-degree felony, for allegedly setting a fire in the upstairs area of Palace Meat Company, 715 E. 500 South.
A probable cause statement filed in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake County says that on Dec. 5, Seeley was “hiding in the upstairs area of the business for a short period of time. (He) was concerned people were after him so the business owner told him he could stay in the upstairs area until the business closed,” the statement said.
At about 3:50 p.m., according to the charging documents, Seeley set fire to his work apron and cardboard materials stored on pallets in the upstairs area.
Other employees discovered the fire and put it out with fire extinguishers.
Two employees found Seeley in the area of the fire, and he spontaneously told them he set the fire with his lighter, the document says, adding that Seeley also made the same comments to police officers at the scene.
“During a post Miranda interview, Cameron Seeley admitted he used a cigarette lighter to set the fire within the business,” the charging document states.
About 25 Salt Lake firefighters responded to the scene. At the time, Salt Lake City Fire Department Capt. Adam Archuleta referred to the incident as a “small contents fire.”
The fire caused $15,000 in damage to the business.
