HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) – A Nekoosa man has been arrested in connection with a fire at Staszak’s Auto in the Village of Howard.
45-year-old Edward Westley is facing 9 charges, including arson of a building without owners consent, burglary to a building or dwelling, criminal damage to property and arson of property other than a building.
According to the criminal complaint, Brown County Sheriff’s officers were dispatched around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, October 11, after reports smoke and flames coming from a wood shed on the property of 2102 Glendale Avenue.
After arriving at the scene, the deputy tried extinguishing the fire but it restarted in several spots. The Howard Fire Department later called in to assist.
Officers spoke with the passerby, who called in the fire, and he said he didn’t see anyone in the area before law enforcement arrived.
Howard Fire Chief Don Phillips said they found two cans of starting fluid lying near the fire, per the complaint. The owner of the building told Chief Phillips that he had not given anyone permission to damage his property or light it on fire.
After investigating the area, officials noticed a broken window, a barrel on fire near the rear of the property, a service door forced open, among other signs of violations.
The Brown County Task Force went through the buildings on the property with the owner and noted items missing or out of place that included a hammer, bandana, and a left handed work glove.
Officials on the scene were later told that Green Bay police officers were responding to a crisis center for a man who was covered in soot and making homicidal statements.
Law enforcement noticed the pattern on the bottom the man’s shoes matched the pattern seen on the doors at the crime scene. Officers also recovered a lighter from the man’s pocket and leather work glove that matched a glove found on the scene.
Westley returns to court on October 31 for a competency hearing. If convicted of all counts, he faces up to 111 years behind bars and $185,000 in fines.
