Ogden man booked for allegedly torching his own apartment

David Clarence Wisniewski. Photo: Weber County

OGDEN, Utah, May 9, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — An Ogden man has been booked on suspicion of aggravated arson after police responded to a fire in his apartment Tuesday evening.

David Clarence Wisniewski, 36, is being held in the Weber County Jail on the first-degree felony charge. He is being held without bail.

A probable cause statement says that Wisniewski called in the fire at about 6:45 p.m. and admitted guilt to the dispatcher.

Police and fire officials responded to the scene, 632 23rd St., and observed a man talking on his phone.

“This individual identified himself as David, and was detained in handcuffs,” says the probable cause statement, filed by an Ogden Police official. “David was placed in the back of your affiant’s car.

“At one point, your affiant asked David if he was all right. David responded by launching into a long explanation of how he’d gone to a neighboring home, retrieved a gas can, and returned to the apartment at with the intent to set it on fire.

“David continued on, detailing how he’d poured the gasoline on the mattress in his bedroom and attempted to light it before finally lighting the carpet and fleeing the apartment before calling
dispatch to report the fire.”

Back at the police station interview room, the suspect waived his Miranda rights and told the story again, the statement says.

“Based on the information above, your affiant has probable cause to believe that David intentionally and unlawfully damaged a habitable structure by means of fire.”

A statement issued by Ogden fire officials said that only one unit was rendered uninhabitable by the fire, but it was later determined that 12 unit were damaged. A early damage estimate set at $20,000 was later revised to $35,000.

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