GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Charges were filed against the suspect in a fire at a storage unit which prosecutors said caused about $400,000 damage to the facility and contents — and more charges are forthcoming.
Thomas Smith II, 58, made an initial appearance Wednesday on charges of arson, burglary, possession of burglarious tools, and obstruction. Bond was set at $50,000 cash.
In addition to the March 19 fire at Lok-Safe Storage, 1610 Stiles Rd., Smith is the suspect in at least four other arsons — and additional charges could be filed as soon as Thursday, assistant district attorney Jessica Petras said in court Wednesday.
No preliminary hearing was scheduled, as Smith is expected back in court Thursday for the additional cases.
Smith confessed to the storage unit fire, and the preliminary damage estimate so far is about $389,000, Petras said.
According to the criminal complaint, the fire was started with cardboard boxes filled with combustible material that had an open flame applied to it.
Security video shows Smith entering the facility shortly before the fire was noticed.
Besides the fire, seven storage units were broken into. Several items recovered from a spot Smith had dumped items in the woods were confirmed as being from other people’s storage units.
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