A Cromwell man is facing charges after allegedly sneaking into a bowling alley and trying to set a small fire in the ceiling.
Michael Shane Senter, 28, of 9508 E. King Arthurs Trail, Cromwell, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 3:51 a.m. Saturday and faces charges for arson, a Level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor; and criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday in Kosciusko Superior Court III, on April 18 Syracuse police responded to a call about a suicidal person last seen at Wawasee Bowl identified as Senter.
Police were unable to locate Senter in the area and left, according to court papers. However, later in the evening the owner of the business called police and said the business was closed and he stayed late to clean when he heard a person in the building.
According to court papers, the owner called out, “Who is here,” to which a person – identified as Senter – shouted back a profanity.
When police showed up, according to the affidavit, they observed a large hole in the ceiling tiles where it appeared someone had pushed through from above, and Senter could be heard running across the rafters.
Police ordered Senter to come down from the ceiling, to which he refused, and told police he had used methamphetamine and someone was trying to kill him.
Senter also allegedly told police they would be sorry if they tried to come up into the ceiling to get him.
Police did go into the ceiling to apprehend Senter, according to the affidavit, and discovered Senter had cuts to his face and burns to his fingers and lips. Senter allegedly told police he got the burns while setting a fire in the ceiling, but the fire would not start and he burned his lips blowing on the fire to get it to start.
Syracuse Fire Department investigated, but an active fire was not located. Damage to electrical wiring in the ceiling was found.
The total damage caused is in excess of $4,000, according to the affidavit.
Senter’s bond was set at $750.
