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Youngstown man jailed in arson at apartment
YOUNGSTOWN
A city man is in Mahoning County jail charged with setting fire to the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority apartment in which he lives.
Michael Collins, 50, of Burlington Street, appeared Friday before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court for arraignment on an aggravated- arson charge. He was arrested Thursday leaving a house in the 400 block of Idora Avenue on the South Side.
Prosecutors explained that Collins has a lengthy criminal history that includes forgery, tampering with evidence, breaking and entering and domestic violence.
They said Collins is believed to have done other damage to the property, and YMHA property managers fear he will do more damage if released from jail.
Collins told the court he has a job and asked to be released from jail and placed on house arrest. Judge Kobly replied, “Oh no,” then set his bond at $200,000.
Collins is scheduled to appear in Youngstown Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing Friday.
According to fire department records, firefighters were called out to a fire at 1136 Burlington St. just before 11 p.m. Aug. 5.
Reports say firefighters could not enter the apartment through a front door because there was a couch blocking that entrance. Firefighters broke out a window in the front of the apartment and entered through that window. They eventually opened the front door with a battering ram.
Once inside, firefighters noted that all four burners on the stove had been turned on, but only one was burning. The oven also had been turned on.
Firefighters also found paper burning in the living room, a bedroom and hallway. Neighbors reported hearing an explosion from the apartment and its front wall was pushed out more than a foot.