KDPS: Man set fires as distraction for break-in
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Police say a man admitted that he set fire to two vacant houses in Kalamazoo as a distraction while he stole some $10,000 in tools from a business.
Appearing in a Kalamazoo courtroom Friday via video linkup, Toby Knight listened quietly as he was arraigned on six felony counts: first-degree arson, third-degree arson, breaking and entering a building with intent, receiving or concealing a stolen vehicle, third-degree fleeing police and larceny in a building.
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says Knight is responsible for two fires, both at vacant homes , that started one after another on Aug. 28. The first fire was reported around 1:35 a.m. on Humphrey Street near Hazard Avenue, while the second was reported around 1:45 a.m. on Sherwood Avenue near Riverview Drive, according to KDPS.
A court document says a firefighter was treated for a back injury sustained while fighting the Sherwood fire.
In the court document, a KDPS detective said that while firefighters were dealing with the fires, someone broke into All-Phase — an electrical supply store on King Highway near Branch Street in Kalamazoo — and made off with $10,000 in tools.
"Several tips came in from citizens identifying Toby Knight as the suspect who committed arson on two houses as a diversion so he could freely break into All Phase," the document reads.
When interviewed by investigators, the document says, Knight admitted that's what happened and that he was driving a stolen SUV at the time.
"He further explained using a torch to start the fires on the porches of the alleged abandoned houses," the document says.
The document says Knight told investigators he stole the tools to pay off a debt he owed someone.
Authorities say Knight was still driving the stolen car on Sept. 2 when a KDPS officer tried to pull him over.
"Knight admitted to fleeing from police in the stolen car during the traffic stop because he got scared and just took off," the court document reads.
Knight, 24, was arrested Thursday . At arraignment, his bond was set at $200,000, with Magistrate Mark Holsomback citing the "nature of the offenses, the danger to the community presented by people who are accused of doing what the defendant is accused of doing."
Online state prison records list Knight as a parole absconder as of Aug. 1. He was on parole following a 2022 breaking and entering conviction.
He is expected back in court for hearings on Oct. 2 and Oct. 9. If convicted of the first-degree arson charge, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Knight is the second person that KDPS has arrested for arson within the past month. George Stanard, 32, was Sept. 5 and arraigned the next day on charges of three counts of first-degree arson and five counts of third-degree arson. KDPS said Stanard was linked to several fires dating back to June.
—News 8's Nick Ponton and Katie Rosendale contributed to this report.
